Tamil Nadu government today told the Madras High Court that an interim compensation of Rs three lakh each would be paid to people infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HPV) due to alleged negligence after they underwent dialysis at the Stanely Medical College Hospital here from March 1 last year.
State Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan made the submission before the first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, and filed the report of an expert committee consisting of three eminent doctors who went into the issue.
The matter related to a PIL by Jayaram Venkatesan of Aam Aadmi Party who contended that about 16 patients undergoing dialysis awaiting kideny transplant in the hospital suddenly were detected with HCV in August 2014.
He has claimed that none of these patients had HCV infection when they came to the hospital and contracted it allegedly due to the hospital not following infection control mechanisms, resulting in an endemic disease.
After perusing the report, the bench in its order said it should be put in public domain with a week, giving four weeks time inviting any suggestions. The suggestions would be examined by the committee and also a non-government doctor.
The court posted the PIL for next hearing to September 21.
