The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Odisha Chief Secretary directing him to reply within six weeks as to why compensation of Rs 10 lakh should not be given to each of the 36 children of Behula village under Garadapur block in Kendrapada district who had fallen ill after taking date-expired worm medicine Albendazole syrup in 2014 in a de-worming camp.
The commission also asked the Chief Secretary to take action against the concerned authorities.
Responding to a petition filed by Odisha-based human rights activist Akhanda, the NHRC said that during an inquiry it was found that 27 Albendazole syrups were given during the routine immunisation camp on November 5, 2014. Six vials were found to be expired by date; and as alleged, these vials were taken by six children. The vials were recovered from the custody of their parents.
The NHRC ruled out negligence of the concerned ANM and ASHA staffs, who were monitoring the camp, and said this contention seems to save the medical officers and doctors on duty who are supposed to possess technical knowledge of the medicines.
The doctors and medical officers and staffs keeping the storage of the medicines and providing such expired medicines are responsible and liable to be punished adequately and departmental disciplinary action must be initiated against their negligent acts and omissions, the NHRC said. The commission further said that it is immaterial that parents did not bring their affected children for treatment to the Patkura CHC.