60 child deaths in 3 weeks, 10 in one day: Bengal hospital under scanner
West Bengal health department seeks reports from Malda Medical College Hospital. Sixty children died there during the first three weeks of August. The department is reviewing the hospital and other health facilities. Many referred children were already in critical condition upon arrival. An initial investigation into these infant deaths is currently underway.
Malda Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal is under investigation after 60 children died in three weeks, including 10 deaths in a single day during the second week of August. The health department has requested a comprehensive report from the facility and is also reviewing other healthcare centers where many of the infants were initially treated.
Eight of the 10 children who passed away on the same day had been born at different hospitals and brought to MMCH with critical conditions. The remaining two newborns were born at MMCH. Doctors have identified various ailments, including respiratory distress, jaundice, and congenital heart issues, as the reasons for the deaths. MMCH superintendent Prasenjit Bar confirmed the tragic event and stated that the hospital is currently preparing a detailed report for the state health department.
The superintendent elaborated that "10 children died in a single day here. Eight were brought in critical condition, and two were born at this facility." Among the 60 recorded deaths in August, 44 involved infants born at other facilities and referred to MMCH due to worsening conditions. So far, officials have inspected 16 hospitals and nursing homes as part of the probe.
A meeting with the Malda district magistrate is scheduled for Thursday to review the situation and discuss the investigation's findings.
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