12 babies die in Kolkata hospital

At least 12 babies died at a state-run hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata, sparking protests by angry parents who alleged medical negligence, news reports said yesterday. The deaths at the B C Roy hospital, the region’s largest referral hospital for children, had occurred since Tuesday, the NDTV network reported. Several families blocked the road outside the hospital and chanted against the hospital management. “The treatment was inadequate and poor, otherwise my son would have survived,” Nasir Ali Mondal, a Kolkata resident, told NDTV. “We were later forced to leave the ward by the staff.” Hospital superintendent D K Pal denied the negligence allegations. He said most of the infants who had died were brought to the hospital in critical condition. “Though the figure may look absurd to the general people, to us it is a normal occurrence. Most of the babies that died were brought here in critical condition,” Pal said. However, he said the medical staff was working round the clock to ensure no more deaths take place. The state health secretary has sought a detailed report. “A probe is on and we will be able to submit the report shortly,” said Pal. “I am really worried for my child. After seeing so many children die, one is bound to be afraid. It’s the negligence of the staff here which has resulted in the deaths,” said a mother whose six month-old baby is undergoing treatment in the hospital. In June, 21 babies died at the same hospital. Authorities ordered an investigation, but the inquiry absolved the hospital of medical negligence. However, the hospital failed to act on recommendations made by the medical panel that were part of the investigation and still had no facilities for examinations like CT scans or a blood storage unit, the report said.