NHRC asks C'garh to submit report over hysterectomy surgeries

The NHRC has directed the Chhattisgarh government to submit a report within a month over the allegations that 7,000 "unnecessary" hysterectomy surgeries were conducted in the state by some doctors, just to claim money under a health insurance scheme.
"There are allegations that 7,000 hysterectomies-- uterus removal surgeries-- had been conducted by unscrupulous doctors in 169 hospitals of Chhattisgarh, to claim money under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY)," National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice K G Balakrishnan told reporters here today.
"The commission has asked the state government to submit a detailed report within four weeks," he said.

He was addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the NHRC's two-day camp at Raipur.
"The government has informed that the licenses of nine doctors in Raipur have already been suspended for carrying out such operation," the former Chief Justice of India added.
As per media reports, the surgeries were conducted over the past two-and-a half years.

During its two-day camp, the NHRC took up 27 different cases for hearing in the Full Commission and Division Bench Sittings comprising seven members. Out of these, six cases were closed after satisfactory replies by the state government.
The commission has recommended about Rs 20 lakh as monetary relief in different cases of human rights violations.

In a case of alleged killing of 17 tribals, including four women, in an alleged encounter between ultras and a police party on January 8, 2009 near village Singaram in Dantewada district, the commission said it was "unsatisfied" with the report submitted by the police. It asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to seek an explanation of the officer who carried out the probe.