Crib deaths continued to haunt Malda District Medical College and Hospital where four more babies died between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
In the past five days, 23 babies have died in the hospital. The officials of the state health department summoned the hospital authorities to Kolkata for an urgent meeting at the Swasthya Bhavan. It has been learnt that the health department is contemplating to transfer two specialist paediatricians and even the superintendent of the Malda hospital.
According to hospital sources, despite lack of infrastructure, including ventilation machine, the authorities are still admitting ailing babies and due to lack of beds many of them are lying on the floors.
Accepting the lack of infrastructure, college principal Debashish Bhattacharya said, “We lack adequate number of beds, doctors and nurses. We will be increasing the number of sick natal care units (SNCU) within a month. More doctors and nurses will be appointed. Further, a number of specialists are also being contacted for treating the babies. I am preparing a report to send to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the state health minister.”
Meanwhile, the state health department transferred Burdwan Medical College and Hospital superintendent Gadadhar Mitra three days after a pregnant woman Parbati Bagdi gave birth to a baby on the road after she was refused admission in the hospital.
The minister of state for health Chandrima Bhattacharya paid a visit to the M.R. Bangur Hospital where the patients relatives expressed discontent over the medical facilities. Ms Bhattacharya later said, “ I will prepare a report and submit it to the chief minister for further action.”