Bhopal: Jabalpur’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College Hospital has come under sharp criticism after three individuals — two patients and one attendant — were reportedly bitten by rats in the psychiatry ward on the night of September 15, 2025. The shocking incident has raised questions over hygiene and safety standards in government-run healthcare facilities.
District Administration Issues Notice
Following the incident, Jabalpur Collector Raghvendra Singh confirmed that notices had been served to hospital authorities. The administration has sought a detailed status report within three days, which will also be forwarded to higher authorities. Singh assured that appropriate action would follow once the inquiry findings are submitted.
Similar Case in Indore Raises Alarm
The episode comes barely two weeks after a tragic case in Indore, where two newborns at Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital were allegedly bitten by rats. One infant lost four fingers before both succumbed to their injuries. Although the state government claimed pre-existing conditions caused the deaths, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance, demanding accountability. Disciplinary action was also taken against several doctors and nurses.
Inquiry and Accountability Measures
In Jabalpur, an internal inquiry has been launched. A three-member committee headed by the hospital superintendent will investigate the matter. Notices have also been sent to the private pest control agency contracted for rodent management and to ward in-charges responsible for monitoring hygiene in the psychiatry ward.
Hospital Authorities Respond
Dr Navneet Saxena, dean of the medical college, confirmed the complaints and ordered a detailed report from the superintendent. “Action will be taken against anyone found guilty — including outsourced agencies,” he said. Reports suggest that patients had earlier flagged rat-related concerns, but some staff allegedly ignored them, worsening the situation.
Patient Accounts Highlight Negligence
One of the victims, who had accompanied his mother from Gotegaon in Narsinghpur district, shared that he was bitten while sleeping on the floor beside her bed around 3 a.m. “The rat bit me and my mother,” he said, adding that the issue had been reported earlier but remained unresolved. The fresh case has intensified calls for stricter monitoring of hospital safety and accountability in Madhya Pradesh’s public health system.
