Even as the number of crib deaths reported from the state-run Dr. B.C. Roy Postgraduate Institute of Paediatric Science since Tuesday has risen to 13 (with one baby dying on Thursday), the Health authorities said there were no instances of medical negligence.
Those who died were all very vulnerable and it would have been nearly impossible to save them. No negligence or any other reason was found that might have led to the deaths, said an official of the Health Department.
“In 48 hours [Tuesday and Wednesday] 12 children have died at the hospital, but to us, the authorities of the hospital, this is not an extraordinary occurrence. We have done a critical analysis of each case — many of these children were suffering from infections and there were a few cases of heart disease and pneumonia,” Superintendent D.K. Pal said. “Almost every day five or six children die at the hospital.”
The latest deaths occurred barely four months after 19 babies died at the same facility. Angry protests and demonstrations surfaced in June, amid allegations of negligence and misbehaviour by the hospital staff.
The hospital is a 350-bed tertiary facility which admits referrals from the districts.
Soon after the June incident, several steps to upgrade infrastructure were announced, but few have been implemented.
it is a symbol of pathetic activities.
The state government cannot wash its hands off the matter by just initiating an inquiry and claiming that there was no medical negligence on the part of the hospital. If the children had been admitted at the hospital at a very vulnerable condition the Trinamul led government must reflect on why this was so. After all there is no dearth of child welfare or maternal care schemes. Perhaps the victims could not avail themselves of the benefits of those schemes for various reasons. Mamata Banerjee must wake up and take stock of the situation to improve the overall condition of healthcare delivery system of the government hospitals.
While it is difficult to comment upon individual deaths in this referral pediatric hospital, the cause of high infant mortality in and out of the hospital care lies with unacceptable health indices among the poor and marginalized. Poor maternal health, inadequate ante-natal care, low birth weight make these babies prone to infections that in turn progress to septicemia and multiorgan failure; these are difficult to treat even with advanced facilities at tertiary care hospitals, situated often at great distance. The media highlights these deaths and governments in panic rush to put more high-tech care in the city hospitals in stead of strengthening primary care. Even the babies who survive because of advanced care go back to their homes with poor sanitary conditions die later or get recurrent infections. Good primary care with streamlined referral services will go a long way in preventing such news making.
Mamatha's socialism at its best!
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