The three-member expert team which probed the shocking death of nine new born babies within a span of 24 hours beginning on Friday last at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla gave clean chit to the treating doctors and staff members, even as the opposition Congress and BJP demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and resignation of both the Health Minister and the Chief Minister
There has been no negligence on the part of the treating doctors and staff members, nor any deficiency in equipment, said Health Minister Dr Damodar Rout, quoting the comprehensive report which was submitted to him by the expert committee headed by the Director Medical Education and Training (DMET).
Describing the death of nine infants in quick succession as unfortunate, Dr Rout said, “The incident was a mere coincidence.”
Notably after the incident in Burla, the State Government had ordered a departmental enquiry into the tragic incident by a three-member expert committee comprising DMET Prof Dr Sanamali Bag, Prof of Paediatric, SVPPGIP, Cuttack Dr Anil Mohanty, and SCB Medical College Hospital Neonatologist Prof. Sailaja Nandan Parida.
The expert committee was given mandate to inquire into the death of the newborns at Burla and see if there was any managerial, technical and treatment lapses.
Director Medical Education and Training (DMET) Dr Bag said, “We could not find any deficiency in duty or treatment. Most of the instruments and equipment are functioning perfectly.”
“The Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of VSS Medical College is operating as per NRHM norm. We have interviewed the Sister in charge, staff sister on duty, doctors, and public and we could not find any deficiency in duty or treatment,” he added.
The BJP and the Congress made their presence felt at Burla on Monday with hot exchange of words with the VSS Hospital Superintendent Dr lK Dash and the doctors in charge of the paediatrics ward.
The Congress held a 12-hour Burla Bandh demanding a judicial inquiry into the death of the newborns. Burla town got paralysed with shops and commercial establishments, educational institutions, including the Sambalpur University and VSSUT, Government offices and banks remaining closed. “The inquiry conducted by the Director Medical Education and Training (DMET) and other two members will provide no justice. The team can’t dare to blame anyone as they are also part of the Government,” said Sambalpur DCC president Rajkishore Das.
A fact finding team of the Congress comprising Harihar Karan, Prakash Chandra Devta, Ramakanta Mishra, all ex-Ministers, and Narendra Mishra rushed to Burla and held discussions with the relevant persons. “Negligence in treatment of the newborns caused the ultimately death,” said the team members at a Press conference later.
The BJP staged a dharna in front of the RDC office here with a six- point charter of demands. The party demanded an inquiry by a Central team. Other demands included autonomy to the VSS Medical College and Hospital, filling up of all vacant posts and closure of all nursing homes at Burla.
“It is nothing but sheer negligence of the doctors,” Sambalpur MlA Jayanarayan Mishra said. The party also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the RDC.