Dr Kafeel Khan cleared of charges in Gorakhpur tragedy, demands compensation for victims' families

Ayushman Bharat scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Centre's flagship Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) on September 23, 2018. The ambitious scheme aims to provide a coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families.

Uttar Pradesh-based pediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan has demanded compensation for the families of victims after having been absolved of charges of medical negligence and corruption. Khan was suspended from Gorakhpur’s BRD Medical College following the deaths of a large number of encephalitis-afflicted children at the hospital,

The doctor on September 27 said on Twitter that he always knew he had not done anything wrong. “On that fateful day, I did what I could do best, as a doctor, father and a common Indian,” said the doctor, adding that he was punished for the crime he didn't do.

“After 2 yrs, enquiry report, (commissioned by @myogiadityanath govt) has accepted that there is no evidence of medical negligence. I was nowhere involved with oxygen supply/tender/maintenance/payment or order (sic)” he posted adding a report by The Times of India.

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According to the report, after two years of suspension from Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College, an inquiry against Dr Khan has absolved him of the charges of corruption, medical negligence and not performing his duty to his fullest on the day over 60 children lost their lives at the hospital due to shortage of oxygen in August 2017.

The doctor had spent almost nine months in prison for the charges of which he has now been absolved of. Released on bail by the Allahabad High Court, he continues to be suspended from the institute, the report said.

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The inquiry report, which was submitted on April 18 by investigating officer Himanshu Kumar, principal secretary (stamps and registration department), to Uttar Pradesh's medical education department, has said that Dr Khan was not guilty of negligence and that he had made all  efforts to control the situation on the night of August 10-11, 2017.

Those parents who lost their infants are still waiting for the justice.I demand that government should apologize and give compensation to the victim families.@PTI_News @TimesNow @myogiadityanath @narendramodi @ndtv @ravishndtv @abhisar_sharma @yadavakhilesh @RahulGandhi @UN pic.twitter.com/WaTwQSCUuZ

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— Dr kafeel khan (@drkafeelkhan) September 27, 2019

After sharing the report, the doctor posted a short video on Twitter and put up his demand for bringing justice for the parents of children who were died on the day. “Those parents who lost their infants are still waiting for the justice. I demand that the government should apologize and give compensation to the victim families,” he said on the social media platform.