Bihar AES deaths : Nitish Kumar assures travel reimbursement for patients

  • | Tuesday | 18th June, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday issued notices to the Union Health Ministry and Bihar government and took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the rising number of deaths of children due to AES.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday assured a flat travel reimbursement of Rs 400 for patients experiencing symptoms of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) to speed up treatment, following its outbreak which has claimed the lives of over 105 children in the state. 

 Instructions were also issued for equipping primary health centres with necessary facilities so that children with AES symptoms in remote areas could be provided with medical attention closer home since, in several cases, the time involved in travelling to the district headquarters and seeking admission to hospitals had led to delay in treatments.

“CM gave few directions. He said the main reason for deaths is that patients reach hospitals late. It’s been reiterated that patients won’t have to bear any expense in coming to hospitals. Their fare will be reimbursed, they’ll be given Rs 400 at a flat rate,” news agency ANI quoted Bihar Chief Secretary Deepak Kr as saying.

The Chief Minister had earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for each child who succumbed in the outbreak. He also directed officials of the state health department, the district administration and doctors to take all possible measures to tackle the situation.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday issued notices to the Union Health Ministry and Bihar government and took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the rising number of deaths of children due to AES.

In the outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Bihar, which has witnessed close to 350 cases and 105 deaths till now, most of these deaths have been attributed to hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar. Hypoglycaemia is a commonly seen sign among patients of AES, and the link has been the subject of research over the years.


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