This Article is From Aug 30, 2015

45 Infant Deaths in 10 Days at Odisha's Health Centre

45 Infant Deaths in 10 Days at Odisha's Health Centre

Representational Image.

Bhubaneswar: In the last 10 days, 45 infants have died at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, Cuttack, leading to anger among the people while the Odisha government is trying to check the deaths by pressing experienced doctors and other staff into service.

It seems the referral health institution, popularly known as Sishu Bhawan,  is a virtual death trap as more than 5,900 infants have died while undergoing treatment in the last five years.
A seven member Central team led by the Additional Secretary of the Health Ministry and specialist doctors visited Sishu Bhavan to assess the situation.

"The whole idea of bringing a Central team is to help the state government and to strengthen the entire service delivery system. If required we will send additional doctors here," said Arun Panda Additional Secretary of Health Ministry.

The Odisha state government has also formed a technical committee to probe the incident and the report is expected next week.

Odisha Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the state government is taking all steps to ensure better services in the hospital.

As per the health department report, as many as 3,869 infants have died in OPD, while 2,034 have died in ICU in the last five years from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

In the last three months, 407 infants have died in both OPD and ICU.

Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with health experts visited Sishu Bhawan to take stock of the situation.

"The centre will provide all support to revamp the Sishu Bhawan infrastructure, if the Odisha government seeks. A long term plan would be prepared for infrastructure development of the hospital," said Pradhan.
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