Kolkata: The deaths of 60 newborns, including 10 infants who died within a single day during a week in August, have raised serious concerns over neonatal care at the state-run Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) in West Bengal.
The unusually high number of infant deaths, most of which were reported during the third week of August, has prompted the state health department to order an inquiry.
The department has asked the MMCH authorities to send a comprehensive report on the deaths, including details related to six of the deceased infants, at the earliest.
Prof (Dr) Prasenjit Bar, medical superintendent-cum-vice principal of MMCH, told reporters on Wednesday, “Ten newborn babies died on August 12 at the hospital. Eight among the 10 babies were brought to our hospital in critical condition from several other government healthcare centres and nursing homes across Malda district.”
“Only two out of the 10 babies were born in our hospital. Four among the 10 deceased had congenital heart disease, two had severe respiratory distress, and the remaining four had other serious complications,” Prof Bar said.
He added, “Similarly, 44 out of the 60 newborns were rushed to our hospital in very critical conditions from elsewhere as referral cases. The remaining 16 babies were born in our hospital.”
The health department began looking into the matter after the number of deaths appeared on the hospital’s official website, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Sources said senior officials from Nabanna and the Swasthya Bhaban, the health department’s headquarters in Salt Lake, subsequently held a virtual meeting with the MMCH principal, the MSVP, doctors and other administrative officials. During the meeting, the hospital authorities were asked to provide detailed case reports concerning all 60 newborns.
Hospital sources said jaundice, serious respiratory complications and congenital heart conditions had been recorded as the causes of death. However, officials from Nabanna and the Swasthya Bhaban were reportedly dissatisfied with the explanation given by the MMCH authorities for such a large number of deaths.
Sources said the Suvendu Adhikari government has sought a detailed report following an inquiry into the deaths.
State Plans Tighter Referral Monitoring
The state government has decided to reorganise the system for referring critically ill newborns from primary and secondary healthcare centres, private hospitals and nursing homes to tertiary-care institutions, including government medical colleges.
As part of the exercise, the health department will review prenatal and antenatal care at secondary healthcare centres and private facilities, especially nursing homes across the districts.
Teams are inspecting nearly 20 private hospitals and nursing homes to assess newborn-care facilities, infrastructure and staff availability.
The Swasthya Bhaban has asked district magistrates to take the necessary action.
