No clinical negligence in infant deaths: Odisha government

The Odisha government on Tuesday said there was "no clinical negligence" committed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post-Graduate Institute of Paediatrics at Cuttack in connection with the spurt of infant deaths in past several days.

Health Secretary Arti Ahuja said there was management and administrative negligence at the referral hospital, popularly known as Sishu Bhawan.

"As per the report submitted by Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET), there was management and administrative shortcomings at Sishu Bhawan. Action will be taken against responsible people for the death of infants," Ahuja told media persons here.

The department had set up a fact-finding committee headed by DMET, directing it to submit a detailed report within 10 days.

Ahuja said nearly 80 percent infants had come to the Sishu Bhawan from distant places and also in critical conditions while the existing facilities at the hospital could not meet the growing number of patients every day.

Besides, there was vacancy of assistant professors in the hospital, she added.

The department has decided to prepare a master plan to check the infant deaths by setting up ICUs at different hospitals. Besides, additional infrastructure would be created including increase in number of wards and ICUs at Sishu Bhawan.

A detailed action plan would also be prepared for management of the referral hospital, said Ahuja.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government on Tuesday transferred Sishu Bhawan Superintendent Niranjan Mohanty to Berhampur MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

Saroj Sathpathy has been posted as Mohanty's successor, said Health department sources.