MSVP of Malda Medical College removed after 89 infant deaths in August

Kolkata: The Medical Superintendent-cum-Vice Principal (MSVP) of the state-run Malda Medical College & Hospital in West Bengal's Malda district has been removed following the deaths of 89 infants and neonates at the facility in August, officials said on Saturday.

The State Health Department took action after a committee set up to probe the unusually high number of infant deaths submitted its report. Acting on the panel's recommendations, the department removed Prasenjit Bar from the post of MSVP.

Confirming the development, the Malda Medical College & Hospital principal Parthapratim Mukhopadhyay said that the development followed instructions from Swastha Bhavan, the headquarters of the state health department.

The team of experts has also recommended that the cause of the deaths of so many infants and neonates should be investigated individually.

In August this year, ten children and neonates died in a single day at Malda Medical College & Hospital. Thereafter, over a span of three weeks, more than sixty children died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Alarmed by the number of deaths, a four-member expert team was dispatched to this key medical college in North Bengal. Last week, the team visited the facility and submitted its report. They revealed that the figure for total infant and neonatal deaths was 89 in the entire month of August.

According to sources in the Health Department, the panel found a lack of coordination among departments within the hospital and identified shortcomings in infrastructure and services. A detailed report on these issues is expected to be submitted to the state government.

“Lapses have also been observed regarding infrastructure and services. A comprehensive report covering these issues will be prepared and submitted to the state government soon. Multiple factors have been identified behind the infant and neonatal deaths, with malnutrition being a key one. Additionally, cases of death have been reported involving respiratory distress after birth, heart-related issues, jaundice, and low birth weight. A team of experts is conducting a detailed review of the medical records and reports for each of these deaths,” a state department official said.

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