Shocking! At least 15 newborn babies died in hospital in Assam within six days; committee formed, probe ordered

At least 15 infants died at a hospital in Assam's Jorhat Medical College and Hospital within six days, the state government has ordered a probe into the matter. The newborn babies reportedly died in the hospital between November 1 and November 6, with authorities yet to ascertain what caused the deaths.

According to officials, the hospital authorities have formed a committee to look into the matter. The 15 newborns have died at the special care newborn unit of the hospital between November 1 and 6, JMCH Superintendent Saurav Borkakoti told PTI.

A high-level probe team has been sent from Guwahati to Jorhat, with a preliminary report expected to be released today. "A team has been sent to Jorhat; it also has a member of UNICEF. They will send a report," Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Saurav Borkakoti, however, denied medical negligence or neglect of the hospital as having been behind the deaths.

"Sometimes the number of patients coming to the hospital may be large and so the figure of the death of newborns may also be large. It depends on what situation the patients have come to the hospital. They may have come with prolonged labour, with low birth weight. In such circumstances, those newborns may die," Borkakoti said.

Borkakoti said ever since the civil hospital was converted into a full-fledged medical college and hospital, the number of patients has soared, exceeding the available 141-bed SNCU capacity. This has forced the hospital to sometimes accommodate more babies, he added.

The hospital has formed a six-member committee to probe the deaths, Borkakoti said.

On an average JMCH admits 40 infants of which 6 die. However, according to official sources, 84 infants have admitted in the week during which the 16 deaths took place. Most of the deaths are referral cases, the sources added.

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