The Bihar government has told the Supreme Court that there are only 5,205 doctors in government-run health centres against the sanctioned strength of 12,206.
In an affidavit, the state government said, only 5,634 nurses were there in government-run hospitals and health centres against the sanctioned strength of 19,155.
The apex court had, last month, directed the state to apprise it about the status of public medical care facilities, nutrition and sanitation within a week in view of deaths of over 100 children in Muzaffarpur due to the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
The state government said, 824 cases have been reported and the number of deaths was 157. It said, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is engaged in finding ways and means to control and treat the dreaded disease.
The apex court is hearing a petition filed by an advocate.
