Fact finding report on Poor quality of health care and services: A case study of North Cachar district, Assam

Post Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016

There are many international conventions which relate to Right to Health and India being a party to those conventions has an obligation to fulfil the provisions of those conventions. The relevant conventions which provides for Right to Life and good health include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Declaration of Alma-Ata, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).Constitution of India protects women’s right to survive pregnancy. In this regard various safe motherhood and maternal benefits were introduced like: National Health Mission (NHM), Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram(JSSK) Assam Public Health Bill 2010, Mamta and Mamoni.

The Fact Finding Team met Ranjana Begum when she delivered her first child in an ambulance. She was deprived of care and treatment for almost 12 hours waiting in the ambulance with her new born child with the hope of getting treatment. Ranjana did not receive post natal care during her stay in the hospital. Thus, the government failed to ensure Ranjhana’s basic right to health and provide adequate antenatal and post natal care for Ranjana and other pregnant women in the district.

The fact finding team witnessed failure at all stages of health care. The system designed to provide adequate care for pregnant women was not administered properly. Poor prenatal care in general and postnatal care in particular, led to deprivation of poor health for Ranjana Begum.

The detailed report on the fact finding of North Cachar District has been attached.