Lack of Ventilators Kill 55 Newborns in August at Nashik Hospital

The Nashik civil hospital authorities keep four infants in one incubator due to lack of adequate facility.

A file photo of babies lying in the Intensive Care Unit of a children’s hospital in Hyderabad. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Reuters)

As many as 55 infants died in the Special Newborn Care Unit of the Nashik Civil Hospital in August, but authorities denied the deaths were due to medical negligence.

Speaking to ANI, Dr GM Hole said:

In August, we have had 55 deaths. The main reason is that we have no ventilators. Also, we got a sanction for 21-bed new maternal wing, but the problem is that we need to cut a tree and have not got permission till now.

“Since April, 187 infants have died in the Unit with 55 deaths reported in August,” Nashik Civil Surgeon Suresh Jagdale told PTI.

Most of these deaths occurred because the infants were brought from private hospitals in a stage in which there is less chance of recovery. The deaths were also due to reasons like premature birth and lung weakness. There are 18 incubators, and we have to keep two, sometimes three, children in one due to the paucity of space.

Suresh Jagdale

The civil surgeon said there was “no medical negligence” in any of the cases.

The hospital treats more children than its actual capacity.(Photo Courtesy: ANI/ Twitter)

Also Read: Farrukhabad Infant Deaths: FIR Filed, Doctors Go on Mass Leave

It is a fact that infants are brought to the government hospital at the last stage.

Deepak Sawant, Health Minister 

He said a “protocol” would be implemented soon in private and government hospitals.

NCP MLA Jaywantrao Jadhav, who visited the civil hospital on Thursday, however, said the hospital has to treat more children than its actual capacity. Jadhav said not a single ventilator set was available in any state civil hospital, including the one at Nashik.

Only one newborn should be kept in an incubator to avoid infection, maintain temperature and to treat jaundice. But, at present, the Nashik civil hospital authorities are keeping four infants in one incubator due to lack of adequate facility.

Jaywantrao Jadhav

Also Read: 35 More Kids Die in Gorakhpur Hospital, Death Toll Rises to 325

Also Read: Jharkhand’s Health Crisis: 52 Infants Die In 30 Days In Jamshedpur

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