21 Infant Deaths In 4 Days Creates Panic Among Parents At Sishu Bhawan In Odisha

Following suo motu cognisance by the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the government of Odisha has ordered multiple probes into the spurt in casualties at the Sishu Bhawan. Despite these measures being taken for inspection, panic-stricken parents are taking away their sick children from the pediatric hospital and seeking treatment for them in private hospitals.Reports of 21 deaths of newborns and pediatrics has been recorded during the last 4 days at the famous Sardar Ballav Bhai Post Graduate Institute of Pediatrics spreading panic and anxiety among the people. During the last 24 hours 5 deaths have been recorded in the hospital ending August 24 noon.

The surge in deaths began from August 21 after which the Hospital authorities ordered for an internal inquiry which eliminated the accusations of negligence in treatment. A 4-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.

When more and more deaths followed, the State Government on August 24 ordered the Cuttack district Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to submit a report after making a thorough inquiry into the incident.

An administrative inquiry into the allegations of the parents over the misbehavior and ill-treatment by the doctors and nurses of the Hospital was conducted by the Cuttack ADM. Around 4 doctors and 12 nurses have been examined but the authorities do not seem to take action based on the report as the Hospital staff have threatened to go on an indefinite strike if they are punished.

On the other hand, 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.

Source-Medindia