The crib deaths came back to haunt state-run Dr B.C. Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences, the lone super-speciality healthcare institution for children in West Bengal, as three dozen newborns died in the last five days. This has prompted the health department headed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to order a probe.
A three-member inquiry committee has been formed. According to health department’s data, 32 newborns died from September 3 to 6. While eight each died on September 3 and 4, September 5 witnessed the highest with 10 deaths. Friday recorded the death of 6.
By Saturday, the data touched 36 in total. Hospital superintendent Dilip Kumar Pal said that many of them were suffering from acute respiratory distress, pneumonia and cardiac and liver related ailments. But doctors on anonymity pointed out the use of inferior quality of baby-warmers and want of a blood bank for emergency care.
As the incident came to light on Saturday morning, families of the infants admitted there started leaving the hospital with their children in panic while others demonstrated against the state-run hospital.
They alleged negligence claiming that the nurses did not pay heed to them. A strong contingent of police force was deployed.
Health secretary Satish Tiwary and chairman of the high-level task force on health and an eminent paediatrician Tridib Banerjee visited the hospital. Mr Tiwary described the deaths as “unfortunate.” But Dr Banerjee ruled out negligence and gave clean chit to the hospital authorities apparently on the basis of a preliminary inquiry report submitted to the department.
“Its the only referral hospital in the state and cannot reject admission to the patients. Doctors give their best but sometimes the patients come in critical condition and die. The newborns were referred here from district hospitals and health centres in moribund condition. Many were underweight while others nearly dead. Its called cluster effect due to the rush in admissions,” he said.
Dr Banerjee added, “The chief minister has been apprised of the incident. She spoke to me for half-an-hour and is looking into it.”