Kota tragedy: Dr Harsh Vardhan assures Rajasthan CM all support to prevent further infant deaths

Kota: The Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has assured Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot of all possible support to prevent further deaths in the Kota tragedy matter.

As of now, over 100 children have died. At least nine more infants died in the last two days of December at the JK Lon hospital here, taking the death toll to 100. Hospital authorities, however, said that the number of deaths reported at the health facility in 2019 was less than 1,005 in 2018.

As per the hospital superintendent, the children died mainly due to low birth weight. Later, according to a government order issued on Wednesday, two doctors, three nursing staff and a ward boy were suspended.

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Now, a multi-disciplinary team of experts including top pediatricians has been sent by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to support the State government for gap analysis & quick measures to be taken. "The team will reach Kota tomorrow," stated Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare

The high-level team includes the Head of Paediatrics and Dean Academies, AIIMS Jodhpur, Senior Regional Director, Rajasthan, H&FW, GOI, Prof of Neonatology, AIIMS, Jodhpur and Adviser, NHSRC, MOHFW

The team of experts along with carry out join gap analysis along with the state Government in terms of clinical protocols, service delivery, manpower availability and equipments for maternal, newborn and pediatric care services in the Medical College Kota, Rajasthan; and will develop a joint action plan based on gap analysis for providing required technical and financial support to Kota Medical College through National Health Mission and State Medical Education Department.

The team members were directed to visit JK Lone Hospital and Medical College, Kota along with State government officials and submit the detailed report.

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In a recent letter written to the State Chief Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has expressed concern about the child deaths at the J K Lon Hospital of Kota Medical College, Rajasthan. He stated that while it is heartening to note that the State of Rajasthan is persistently showing significant decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) for the last four years, available information from Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) under the National Health Mission, and the State Government have showed higher mortality rate of 20.2% in J. K. Lon Hospital, Kota, during 2019 in comparison to the preceding two years (Year 2018 = 14.3%; Year 2017=4.3%).

Further, the Union Health Minister has requested the Chief Minister, Rajasthan to “assess the situation and take proactive steps to avoid these preventable child deaths. We, from Government of India, are ready to provide any technical assistance in this matter. We look forward to your continued support and cooperation for Improving child survival in the country, so as to ensure that no child succumbs to preventable causes or due to lack of our health system capacity.”

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