Congress today targeted in the Rajya Sabha the Chhattisgarh government over the recent botched sterilisation surgeries in Bilaspur, in which 13 women died, and demanded its dismissal.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari said 83 tubectomy surgeries were performed by one doctor on a single day although medical norms provide for maximum of ten such operations per day.
The doctor in question was decorated by Chief Minister Raman Singh at Republic Day function this year, he said.
Tiwari also alleged that the facilities for carrying out the operation were not adequate.
He alleged that rat poison was administered to the operated tribal women instead of pain-killers and medicines for the camp were bought from black-listed pharma companies.
"It is not the doctor who is responsible but Chhattisgarh government that is responsible. Chhattisgarh government should be dismissed," he said.
Associating with Tiwari, his party colleague Mohsina Kidwai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Raman Singh to take strict action but only some officials have been suspended.
The Health Minister should have been removed, she said, adding Chhattisgarh government had in three months revoked suspension of an official after an eye camp went wrong sometime back.
Some 83 women underwent laparoscopic tubectomy surgery at the camp, receiving incentive payments of Rs 1,400. Health workers got Rs 200 for each woman they brought to the camp.
