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{{Short description|Medical college in Gorakhpur, India}}
{{Undue weight|date=November 2019}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox medical college
|name = Baba Raghav Das Medical College, Gorakhpur
|native_name =
|image = BRD MEDICAL COLLEGE,GORAKHPUR.jpg
|caption = BRD Medical College in 2014
|established =
|type = State-run [[Medical College]]
|principal =
|students =
|undergrad = 150 ([[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MBBS]]) students every year<ref name="MCI-MBBS">{{cite web| title=List of Colleges Teaching MBBS. -Medical Council of India (MCI)| website=Medical Council of India (MCI)| url=http://www.mciindia.org/InformationDesk/ForStudents/ListofCollegesTeachingMBBS.aspx| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607111811/http://www.mciindia.org/InformationDesk/ForStudents/ListofCollegesTeachingMBBS.aspx| archive-date=7 June 2013| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|postgrad = 54 ([[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] & [[Master of Surgery|MS]]) students every yearr<ref name="BRD">{{cite web | title=PG capacity of BRD Medical College | website=BRD Medical College | date= | url=http://www.brdmc.org/courses.php | accessdate=3 September 2017 }}</ref>
|city = [[Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh|Gorakhpur]]
|state = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|country = India
|campus =
|coordinates = {{Coord|26.813584|N|83.3999654|E}}
|pushpin_map = India#Uttar Pradesh
|free_label = Acronym
|free = BRD Medical College
|academic_affiliation = *[[Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University]] (2021 - present)
*[[Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University|Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University (''erstwhile'' Gorakhpur University)]] (1972 - 2021)
|website = {{url|brdmc.ac.in}},{{url|brdmc.org}}
}}
'''Baba Raghav Das Medical College, Gorakhpur''' is a [[medical school|medical college]] in [[Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh|Gorakhpur]], India. It is run by the [[government of Uttar Pradesh]]. The hospital affiliated to the College is the only [[Tertiary referral hospital|tertiary care centre]] in a 300 km2 region around Gorakhpur.

==History==
[[File:Baba Raghav Das 1998 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Baba Raghav Das on a 1998 stamp of India]]
The BRD Medical College was established in 1969 and is affiliated to [[Gorakhpur University]]. It was initially developed as a centre for treating mosquito-borne diseases.<ref name="HT_Rajesh_2017"/> The Nehru Hospital is affiliated with the college. It{{clarify|date=November 2019}}  has 700 beds, with an additional 108 beds in Epidemic Ward.

The college is run by the state government.<ref name="BBC_Soutik_2011"/> In August 2014, the [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|Union Health Ministry]] led by [[Harsh Vardhan (Delhi politician)|Harsh Vardhan]] announced a plan to modernise the institute's infrastructure and to transform into a "super-speciality facility" on par with the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi|All India Institute of Medical Sciences]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/six-medical-college-hospitals-in-up-will-be-upgraded-harsh-vardhan_957068.html|title=Six medical college hospitals in UP will be upgraded: Harsh Vardhan|date=25 August 2014|publisher=}}</ref>

Scientists at the Government Regional Public Analyst Laboratory on the college campus were the first to discover that [[Maggi#Testing controversies|Maggi noodles]] contain too much [[monosodium glutamate]] (MSG), resulting in a high-profile case in the media.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Hamza|title=Maggi Row: It started from six overworked men and a Gorakhpur lab |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/maggi-row-it-started-from-six-overworked-men-and-a-gorakhpur-lab/|accessdate=8 June 2015|publisher=The Indian Express|date=7 June 2015}}</ref>

BRD Medical College is the only [[tertiary referral hospital]] in a 300 km2 area around Gorakhpur, serving patients from 15 surrounding districts.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.epw.in/journal/2017/33/editorials/when-children-die.html |title=When Children Die |journal=Economic & Political Weekly |volume=52 |issue=33 |date=19 August 2017 }}</ref> It is a major centre for treating [[encephalitis]],<ref name="Wire_Manoj_2017"/> a disease that has seen regular outbreaks during the [[monsoon season]] in the Gorakhpur region.<ref name="BBC_Soutik_2011"/> Patients, especially poor ones, come from several neighbouring districts, [[Bihar]], and the neighbouring country of [[Nepal]]. According to a 2017 estimate, the BRD Medical College treats over 60% of the encephalitis cases in India and receives 2500–3000 encephalitis patients every year. Most of the encephalitis cases arrive during August–October, when the number of patients in the hospital ranges from 400–700.<ref name="Wire_Manoj_2017">{{cite news |url=https://thewire.in/167498/gorakhpur-children-death-brd-medical-college-up-government/ |title=How Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College Struggled With Money and Manpower for Years |publisher=The Wire |author=Manoj Singh |date=13 August 2017 }}</ref>

=== Deaths ===
{{Bar chart
| title = Encephalitis-related child deaths at BRD hospital<ref name="HT_Rajesh_2017"/>
| float = right
| label_type = Year
| data_type = Number of child deaths
| data_max = 700
| label1 = 2012
| data1 = 557
| label2 = 2013
| data2 = 650
| label3 = 2014
| data3 = 525
| label4 = 2015
| data4 = 491
| label5 = 2016
| data5 = 641
| label6 = 2017 (till 11 Aug)
| data6 = 163
}}
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+Trend of child deaths at BRD Medical College Hospital<ref name="ToI_drop_2017"/><ref name="IE_drop_2017"/>
! Year !! Children admitted !! Total child deaths
|-
| 2014 || 51,018 || 5,850
|-
| 2015 || 61,295 || 6,917
|-
| 2016 || 60,891 || 6,121
|-
| 2017 (till 2 Sep) || Not available || 1,317
|}

{{See also|2017 Gorakhpur hospital deaths}}
{{outdated section|date=November 2019}}
The first encephalitis epidemic broke out in the Gorkhapur region in 1978.<ref name="TH_Priyanka_2017">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ignoring-the-science-behind-encephalitis-deaths/article19493449.ece |title=Ignoring the science behind encephalitis deaths |author=Priyanka Pulla |date=14 August 2017 |newspaper=The Hindu }}</ref> During 1978–2011, more than 30,000 encephalitis deaths were recorded at BRD medical college.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.firstpost.com/election/33-years-later-encephalitis-still-an-issue-of-concern-for-voters-in-up-206249.html |title=33 years later encephalitis still an issue of concern for voters in UP |date=7 February 2012 |newspaper=Firstpost }}</ref> This included the deaths of 1,500 patients, 90% of them children, in 2005.<ref name="Wire_Manoj_2017"/> The 2005 outbreak was the worst since 1978.<ref name="BBC_Soutik_2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-15269441 |title=India encephalitis outbreak kills 400, mainly children |author=Soutik Biswas |work=BBC News |date=12 October 2011 }}</ref> The incident became a political issue, and several ministers visited the place. The number of cases decreased after vaccinations were administered to children in the area.<ref name="Wire_Manoj_2017"/>

According to official records, during 2012–2017, more than 3,000 children died at BRD hospital. Most of the deaths were attributed to [[acute encephalitis syndrome]] (AES), caused by [[Japanese encephalitis]]. According to the institution's former principal and head of its pediatrics department, KP Kushwaha, the official death count is understated. In 2017, he alleged that the doctors at the institution misreport the number of deaths to avoid action against them and to get promotions. Other medical practitioners have blamed the hospital's negligence as a major factor behind the high number of child deaths. Over the years, several politicians visited the hospital after each incident of mass child deaths. They have promised to improve the hospital facilities, although no such improvements have been done yet.<ref name="HT_Rajesh_2017">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/at-gorakhpur-s-brd-medical-college-more-than-3-000-children-have-died-in-six-years/story-m8yo2dmDl1mp6Xx25V2CKI.html |title=Gorakhpur hospital tragedy: BRD Medical College has seen more than 3,000 child deaths in six years |author=Rajesh Kumar Singh |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=12 August 2017 }}</ref>

In 2017, 175 children died of encephalitis, out of a total 1,256 deaths at the hospital. The deaths attracted media attention and generated political controversy in August 2017, when 296 children died, including 77 of encephalitis.<ref name="DNA_29_Aug">{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-36-children-die-in-last-48-hours-at-gorakhpur-s-brd-medical-college-2541548 |title=36 children die in last 48 hours at Gorakhpur's BRD medical college |newspaper=DNA |date=29 August 2017 }}</ref> However, the total number of child deaths, including encephalitis-related child deaths, actually dropped in 2017.<ref name="ToI_drop_2017">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sharp-drop-in-brd-hospital-deaths-this-year-govt-data/articleshow/60352379.cms |title=Sharp drop in BRD hospital deaths this year: Govt data |newspaper=The Times of India |date=3 September 2017 }}</ref><ref name="IE_drop_2017">{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sharp-drop-in-brd-hospital-deaths-this-year-govt-data-4826896/ |title=Sharp drop in BRD hospital deaths this year: Govt data |date=3 September 2017 |newspaper=Indian Express }}</ref>

=== Alleged causes of deaths ===

==== Mismanagement ====

Corruption in the organization's management is a frequently cited cause of the high number of encephalitis deaths. In December 2010, the commissioner of Gorakhpur zone, P.K. Mahanti, accused the college principal, R.K. Singh, of impeding the normal functioning of the institute by frequently going on leave. In August 2011, Mahanti's successor K. Ravindra Nayak made serious allegations against Singh, including improper award of maintenance contracts, purchase of hospital supplies at inflated rates, misappropriation of funds from various government schemes, irregularities in job appointments, and non-payments or delayed payments to other parties despite the availability of sanctioned funds.<ref name="IT_Amir_2011">{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/encephalitis-deaths-in-gorakhpur/1/160303.html |title=Encephalitis patients suffer due to corruption in Gorakhpur hospital |author1=Amir Haq |author2=Gajendra Tripathi |publisher=India Today |date=16 November 2011 }}</ref>

In August 2010, K.P. Kushwaha, who held the charge of the [[pediatrics]] department and the encephalitis ward, complained about the malfunctioning ventilators installed by the contractor GT Enterprises during 2008–2009. He recommended blacklisting the company, but GT Enterprises was awarded another contract for installing a gas-and-oxygen pipeline in the hospital, although another bidder had offered a lower [[sales quote]] of {{INR}} 148,000 compared to GT Enterprises's quote of {{INR}} 242,000.<ref name="IT_Amir_2011"/>

A report found dogs roaming around the hospital chambers and beds being shared by multiple patients in the pediatric ward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/government/gorakhpur-how-a-medical-college-turned-into-a-funeral-factory|title=Photo Story: How a Medical College in Gorakhpur Turned Into a Funeral Factory|website=The Wire|access-date=13 August 2018}}</ref>

==== Lack of funds ====
{{outdated section|date=November 2019}}
The college management has cited a lack of funds for poor facilities at the institution.<ref name="Wire_Manoj_2017"/> In 2009, the state government granted the college several million rupees from a federal health programme. The college spent part of the funds to hire 135 researchers, doctors, and paramedics focused on encephalitis treatment. However, by August 2009, most of the money had been spent, and only 36 of the hired staff were being paid regular salaries.<ref name="BBC_Soutik_2011"/>

In August 2017, it was reported that an average of 300 child patients were being admitted to the 50-bed pediatric [[Intensive Care Unit]] (ICU) every month. One [[infant warmer]] was being used for 3–4 babies simultaneously. The families of newborn babies were asked to sign consent forms stating that the College would not be held responsible if their baby died because of infections transmitted from other babies in the same warmer. In August 2016, when the Union Health Minister [[Anupriya Patel]] visited the institution, his department reported that BRD College did not have the budget for stocking up on medicine: patients were forced to buy medicine from outside. In February 2016, the principal of the College sought a budget of around {{INR}} 379.9 million from the government for the treatment of encephalitis cases. The College also asked for {{INR}} 100 million to set up a Level 3 [[intensive care unit]] with a staff strength of 149. These proposals were not approved by the state government as of August 2017.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

In March 2017, the institution's oxygen supplier had discontinued its services due to lack of payments.<ref name="Wire_Manoj_2017" /> In August 2017, another oxygen supplier to the hospital cut its services because the hospital did not pay dues. This led to a large number of deaths, which came to widespread media attention. It emerged that the dues were not paid despite several letters by the supplier to various officials of the state administration, including the Chief Minister Adityanath.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/health/gorakhpur-deaths-adityanath-government-ignored-sos-on-oxygen-payments-for-months|title=Gorakhpur Deaths: Adityanath Government Ignored SOS on Oxygen Payments for Months|website=The Wire|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref>

==== Misdiagnosis ====

In the past, the encephalitis epidemics in the Gorakhpur region have been attributed to the typical viruses, such as the [[Japanese encephalitis virus]]. Since the epidemic first broke out in 1978, several organizations, including the [[National Institute of Virology]] and the [[National Centre for Disease Control]], visited BRD Medical College to determine the cause of the encephalitis outbreaks. They ran lab tests for the [[malaria parasite]], and the various viruses that are known to cause encephalitis, including [[enterovirus]]es, the [[CHIKV|Chikungunya virus]], the [[Herpes simplex virus]], and the [[dengue virus]].<ref name="TH_Priyanka_2017"/>

In 2007, the Government of India started a Japanese encephalitis vaccination programme with drugs imported from China. The initiative was successful in several states, but the Gorkahpur region continued to see a high number of encephalitis cases.<ref name="TH_Priyanka_2017"/><ref name="IT_Prabhash_2017">{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gorakhpur-encephalitis-deaths-brd-medical-college-hospital/1/1024551.html |title=Gorakhpur has a history of children's deaths, 25,000 kids have lost lives to encephalitis |author=Prabhash K Dutta |newspaper=India Today |date=12 August 2017 }}</ref> After further research, other viruses, such as enteroviruses, were determined not be a cause of the medical incidents.<ref name="TH_Priyanka_2017"/> In 2009, scientists from the United States [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] visited the area to take samples to identify the virus.<ref name="BBC_Soutik_2011"/>

A 2016 study by a group of ten doctors concluded that a high number of the children admitted to BRD Medical College had encephalitis triggered by the [[scrub typhus]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/gorakhpur-hospital-tragedy-scrub-typhus-a-major-cause-of-encephalitis-revealed-2016-study-3928203.html |title=Gorakhpur hospital tragedy: Scrub typhus a major cause of encephalitis, reveals 2016 study |publisher=Firstpost |date=14 August 2017 }}</ref> a bacterium that was previously not known to be responsible for encephalitis outbreaks.<ref name="TH_Priyanka_2017"/> According to Govindakarnavar Arunkumar of the Manipal Institute of Virus Research, in Gorakhpur, the scrub typhus was not diagnosed and treated during the early stages, ultimately triggering difficult-to-cure brain inflammation.<ref name="TH_Priyanka_2017"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.brdmc.ac.in/ Official website]
* [https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/23/8/17-0025_article Scrub Typhus as a Cause of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India] (CDC study)

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Education in Gorakhpur]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1969]]

Baba Raghav Das Medical College - Revision history

>Content at 08:47, 23 July 2021