Infant’s death triggers crackdown on illegal hospitals in Muzaffarnagar

Agra: Medical bodies and local organisations have launched a district-wide campaign against illegal hospitals following the death of a newborn during treatment at an alleged unauthorised facility.At a joint meeting on Sunday, doctors raised concerns over the growing number of hospitals allegedly operating without basic infrastructure, qualified staff or functional operation theatres. They said many such centres conduct surgeries without adequate supervision, posing risks to patients.District health authorities have sealed two such facilities following recent complaints, officials said. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) have extended support and called for strict enforcement to safeguard patients.Narendra Panwar, a senior member of an organisation leading the campaign, said, "The group, along with doctors, has started compiling a list of suspected hospitals engaged in illegal surgical practices, which will be submitted to authorities."The joint front has called for regular inspections, strict adherence to medical norms and closure of non-compliant hospitals, warning of protests if action is delayed. Child specialist Dr Ashish Balyan said, "This reflects a complete failure of the health department. Hundreds of such nursing homes are operating in Muzaffarnagar. We have prepared a list and will submit it to ensure lives are saved."Protests broke out at a private hospital in the district on Saturday after an eight-day-old newborn died during treatment. The infant, born on March 10, had initially been stable but was kept on medical support.The child's father said the hospital later informed them that the baby's condition had deteriorated and referred the infant to Meerut, where the newborn died shortly after arrival.Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ajay Kumar said, "During inspection, no responsible hospital staff or medical records were found at the facility. Patients admitted there were shifted to a district hospital to ensure continuity of treatment."