Sixteen newborns die in JMCH in a week, probe ordered

Guwahati, November 9, 2018:

At least 16 newborns died at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) in the past week.

JMCH superintendent, Dr. Shaurabh Borkotoky, said a six-member committee, headed by the HoD of Pediatrics Department, had been formed to probe the deaths in the hospital.

“We cannot presume what caused the deaths. We will know everything once the probe panel submits its report,” he said.

He warned that strict action would be initiated if the probe reveals the deaths were caused by the negligence of hospital staff. He also said that there was an acute shortage of staff in the hospital.

In October last year, ten newborns had died at the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital in Barpeta in 24 hours sending shockwaves across the state. All the babies were admitted in the hospital’s sick newborn care unit.