M A I N   N E W S

5 newborns die at Ludhiana hospital
* No specialists available, negligence alleged
* Health Minister marks inquiry
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 23
Five newborns died at the mother and childcare unit of the Ludhiana Civil Hospital today due to alleged unavailability of gynaecology specialists and adequate infrastructure.

Four deliveries were conducted by staff nurses and the fifth one by a gynaecology expert who was not on duty and called from home.

The doctor on duty, Dr Alka Mittal, despite being called up several times, managed to reach the hospital around 4pm when four newborns had already died. In her defence, she said the expecting mothers were brought in serious condition and even if she could have reached earlier, she could not have been able to save them.

Four boys and a girl died between 10 am and 6 pm. Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani has marked an inquiry into the case. He said: “Dr Alka Mittal was chargesheeted earlier this month for negligence and she is yet to file a reply in that case. Today also, she did not report for work till 4pm. Stern action will be taken against her as families have lost their generation,” Jyani said.

The hospital authorities claim that the foetal heart-rate in two newborns was missing. On being asked about the other three, they said the newly constructed unit of the hospital was ill-equipped.

Dr MS Bajwa, who was called in the evening to perform the fifth delivery, said: “I conducted a delivery with Caesarean Section but the baby (boy) could not be saved. The operation theatre is on the third floor and the patient has to reach there on her own as the lifts are defunct. Most of the patients referred here are critical and since most of them are poor, we treat them with whatever limited equipment we have.”

Attendants of the deceased and a few staff members alleged that the newborns died as the doctor on duty came late. But, Dr Mittal said: “Though four newborns had died during delivery, their chances of survival were negligible. The lone operation theatre on the new premises is not operational and patients are being referred to the old one, which is half a kilometre away.”

Officiating Senior Medical Officer Dr D Goyal said an emergency meeting was being held with higher authorities. When asked about the absence of trained staff, he said: “This is what we have to find out.” SMO Dr RK Karkara was on leave today.

The newly built unit of the hospital was inaugurated on November 21 by the Health Minister. The authorities alleged that higher-ups were urged not to inaugurate it till it was fully equipped, but to no avail.

Ironically, no paediatrician is present during any of the delivery procedures, be it normal or C-Section, in the hospital. Dr Bajwa said the presence of a paediatrician was mandatory to ensure that the child was normal and healthy.