Deaths in paediatric hospital spread panic among parents

Even as the Odisha government has ordered multiple probes into the spurt in casualties at the Sishu Bhawan here following suo motu cognisance by the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), panic-stricken parents are taking away their sick children from the paediatric hospital and making beeline at private hospitals.

The famous Sardar Ballav Bhai Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics here has recorded at least 23 deaths of newborns and paediatrics during last four days, spreading panic and anxiety among people here. The hospital recorded at least five deaths during last 24 hours ending Monday noon.

The spurt in deaths began from Friday following which the Hospital authorities ordered for an internal enquiry, which however, has ruled out the allegation of negligence in treatment. A four-member team comprising senior doctors and administrative officers of the Hospital conducted the enquiry, the report of which has already been submitted to the government.

However, when more and more deaths followed, the State government on Monday ordered the Cuttack district chief medical officer (CMO) to submit a report after making a thorough enquiry into the incident.

Similarly, the Cuttack ADM also conducted an administrative enquiry into the allegations of the parents over the misbehaviour and ill-treatment meted out to them by the doctors and nurses of the Hospital. At least four doctors and 12 nurses have been examined by now. But the authorities are unlikely to take action on the basis of the report as the Hospital staffs have threatened to go on an indefinite strike, if they are punished.

According to another report reaching here, the Odisha Human Rights Commission after taking suo motu congnisance, has issued notices to the State government and the Hospital authorities on Monday asking them to file details on it within a week.

Meanwhile, an exodus of patients from the Hospital was witnessed on Monday as the parents and relatives of the sick children took them to nearby private hospitals for treatment.