Why in News: Two infants died after being bitten by rats in the NICU of Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital, Indore, exposing serious lapses in hygiene, infrastructure, and accountability in Madhya Pradesh’s public healthcare system.
Context
- Two infants died in the NICU of Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital, Indore, after being bitten by rats (Sept 2025).
- Indore is India’s “cleanest city” for eight consecutive years, yet the incident highlights gaps in hospital hygiene, infrastructure, and accountability.
Key Issues
1. Infrastructure Decay
- MY Hospital, built in 1955, caters to 10+ districts with daily footfall of ~20,000.
- Crumbling 70-year-old building, poor maintenance, overcrowding.
2. Hygiene & Sanitation Failures
- Food waste from attendants and charitable groups attracts rodents.
- Inadequate garbage disposal and pest control limited to inside wards.
3. Administrative Lapses
- Outsourced pest control failed despite prior warnings; minor penalties imposed.
- Blame largely shifted to nurses instead of systemic accountability.
4. Human Resource Shortage
- Nurse-patient ratio severely skewed: 3–4 nurses for 20 ICU patients.
- State-wide shortfall of ~10,800 nurses (NHSRC 2021).
5. Governance & Accountability
- Reactionary suspensions; weak monitoring of outsourced services.
- Allegations of corruption and political nexus in contracts.
Wider Implications
- Reflects neglect of public health infrastructure despite Smart City rankings.
- Raises human rights concerns (NHRC, NCPCR notices; HC suo motu action).
- Erodes public trust in government hospitals, especially for poor and tribal communities.
Way Forward
- Comprehensive hospital infrastructure upgrade (new building sanctioned).
- Strict monitoring and accountability of outsourced services.
- Strengthen nurse-patient ratios and training.
- Enforce hygiene regulations on food distribution inside hospital premises.
Conclusion
The tragedy underscores that public healthcare cannot rely on ad-hoc fixes; structural reforms in infrastructure, staffing, and governance are essential for patient safety and dignity.
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 2
- Issues related to public health infrastructure and service delivery.
GS Paper 3
- Health infrastructure gaps and impact on human development.
Mains Practice Question
Q. The recent rat-bite deaths of infants in Indore’s government hospital highlight systemic weaknesses in India’s public healthcare system. Discuss the challenges of infrastructure, human resources, and accountability, and suggest reforms to ensure patient safety and dignity.