Four organisations representing survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on Thursday opposed a plan to merge a hospital dedicated to their care with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, citing concerns that the move violates Supreme Court orders.
The leaders of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, and Children against Dow Carbide said they had written to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, urging them to abandon the merger plan.
"The proposed merger with AIIMS, Bhopal will cause irreparable damage to the healthcare system in place for Bhopal survivors," said Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, during a press conference.
Bee noted that a similar proposal was rejected by a government-appointed High Powered Committee in August 2019. "We fail to understand why this proposal, which will take away the facilities for special attention to survivors, is being revived after five years," she added.
Rashida Bee claimed she became aware of the merger plan through a draft cabinet note prepared by the Union Health Ministry.
Balkrishna Namdev, president of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha, expressed concerns about the impact of the merger on patient care.
"Since January 2024, AIIMS, Bhopal has started providing cancer care to Bhopal survivors following an order of the MP High Court. However, the monitoring committee appointed by the Supreme Court has expressed concern over the waiting period of 3-4 months for patients," Namdev said, adding that the merger has "ominous portents."
Nawab Khan of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha argued that the merger proposal violates Supreme Court directives. "On August 9, 2012, the Supreme Court directed the Union government and other agencies to make BMHRC an autonomous teaching institution to attract quality staff and improve services for the gas victims," Khan said.
Nousheen Khan of Children against Dow Carbide criticised the lack of consultation with those affected by the tragedy.
The Bhopal gas tragedy, widely regarded as the world’s worst industrial disaster, claimed the lives of 3,787 people and affected more than 500,000 others when toxic gas leaked from a pesticide factory owned by Union Carbide on the night of December 2-3, 1984.
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