Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday ordered investigations into the death of a woman who suffered severe mental distress after a private clinic “wrongly” diagnosed her with HIV.
The chief minister told the state assembly on Wednesday that the director of the health services would look into the incident and submit a report in a fortnight.
The issue was raised in the assembly by Rohru Congress MLA Mohan Lal Brakta.
“The matter is very sensitive and after the probe report is received, strict action will be taken against the private clinic for preparing a wrong HIV positive report. Compensation to the deceased woman's family will be provided as per rules,” Thakur said.
Raising the issue, Brakta demanded strict action against the private clinic situated in the Rohru subdivision in Shimla district. He also sought adequate compensation for the 22-year-old woman's family.
The MLA said that the woman died at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla on Tuesday due to severe mental and emotional shock after she came to know about the “HIV positive” report.
Brakta said the woman had gone to the private clinic for a checkup due to an ailment. Her tests were conducted at the private clinic and the reports of the test were submitted to her without informing her about its contents.
She later went to the government run Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) in Shimla for treatment where her husband was told about the report prepared by the private clinic. She was then asked to undergo fresh tests.When the woman came to know that she has been diagnosed 'HIV positive' by the private clinic, she went into a coma.She was then shifted to IGMC where she later died. The report of the fresh test conducted at the government hospital stated that she was not HIV positive.
Himachal Assembly scraps 20 archaic law
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly here on Wednesday repealed 20 laws, which the government said had lost their significance or had become obsolete and redundant.
Moving The Himachal Pradesh Repealing Bill, 2019, Law Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said the objective was to remove redundant laws from the statute book and bring in clarity.
“These laws have become either irrelevant or dysfunctional and importantly have outlived their utility,” Bhardwaj said while listing a British era law.Expressing concern over the move, CPI-M member Rakesh Singha said, “The Assembly is for making laws, not for repealing laws. The government is repealing 20 laws in one go. The House should reconsider (the passing of bill).”
Participating in the debate, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of the Congress asked, “Have these laws been repealed by Parliament?”
On this, the Law Minister said they had become irrelevant and the new laws had come into force. “There was no need to continue with archaic laws,” Bhardwaj said.Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri demanded that the Bill should be sent to select committee. Despite objections, the House passed the Bill by a voice vote.
Over 3 000 posts for ex-servicemen lying vacant in HP
Over 3,000 posts for ex-servicemen are lying vacant in various departments, Sainik Welfare minister Mahender Singh said on Wednesday. Replying to a question by Sarkaghat BJP MLA Col Inder Singh, Singh told the state Assembly that around 4,265 posts of ex-servicemen were lying vacant till January 15 this year. Out of 4,265, 619 posts have been filled on regular basis whereas 382 posts have been filled on temporary basis, he said. Therefore, 3,264 posts of ex-servicemen are still lying vacant, he added.