More than 10 women die after botched surgery at Indian sterilisation ‘camp’

The Hindu reports that the death toll has climbed from 10 women to 11 after botched operations at a government mass sterilization “camp” in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. Around 34 women were listed in critical condition. About 60 women fell ill on Monday, two days after surgery at a so-called family planning camp at a village. Such camps are held regularly in Chhattisgarh and other Indian states as part of a long-running effort to control India’s booming population. Four officials have been suspended and an investigation will be held, chief minister of the state, Raman Singh, said.

Medicines past their expiry date were given to the patients and the surgeries were conducted in an extremely unhygienic place which led to the deaths. This is criminal negligence on the part of the government.

Bhupesh Baghel, State Congress president

Deaths due to sterilization are not a new problem in India where more than 4 million sterilizations were performed in 2013-14, according to the government. Between 2009 and 2012, the government paid compensation for 568 deaths resulting from sterilization, the health ministry said in an answer to a question in parliament two years ago.

Asia-Pacific sterilization