80 newborn deaths at Madhya Pradesh hospital in six months, BJP MLA calls for probe

An investigation has been called for by a BJP MLA following the death of at least 80 newborns at a district hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni district over the past six months. Hospital authorities claim the deaths were due to premature births, low birth weight and complications in critically ill infants, but MLA Dinesh Rai Munmun alleges that doctors were unavailable at night.

Civil Surgeon Dr Vinod Kumar Navkar said the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) receives critically ill newborns from remote rural areas of the district, with many born prematurely and weighing less than the WHO and Government of India recommended for baby weight of 2.5 kg. Navkar also pointed out complications during labour and delivery.

Between April and June, 34 deaths occurred, followed by 46 deaths between July and September. Navkar defended the hospital's performance, stating the neonatal mortality rate at the SNCU was below 7.5 per cent, lower than other districts in the Jabalpur division. However, families of newborns have alleged inadequate or timely treatment, and Rai conducted a surprise inspection after receiving complaints about doctor absences and allegations of patient demands for money.