After nine newborns die in a Kota hospital, Rajasthan Health Minister orders inquiry

Nine newborns have died at a state-run hospital in Kota, Rajasthan within a span of hours, officials said on Thursday. Five of the babies, who were 1-4 days old, died on Wednesday night and four more the following night at the JK Lon Hospital, news agency PTI reported. The health facility had hit national headlines in December last year over the deaths of an unusual number of infants.

Following the deaths, Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma said that the chief minister and Rajasthan government is taking this issue very seriously. Raghu Sharma ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the hospital.

“9 newborns have lost their lives, out of which 3 were brought dead. I’ve issued directions that under no circumstances should we lose the life of any newborn due to the negligence of doctors. CM and govt is taking this issue very seriously,” ANI quoted Sharma as saying.

Hospital Superintendent Suresh Dulara, however, claimed that the deaths were natural with no unusual or severe reason or infection.

As per the report forwarded to the health minister by the Kota medical college principal, three infants were brought dead to the J K Lon Hospital, as many died due to congenital malformations and the rest were sudden infant deaths, according to a statement.

Divisional Commissioner K C Meena and District Collector Ujjawal Rathore visited the hospital on Thursday evening and held a meeting. Meena directed the health authorities to immediately deploy six extra doctors and 10 nurses to monitor the situation and start a newly-constructed ward by Friday.

Sharma asked the officials to conduct a primary inquiry into the matter and sought a report. He has directed the principals of all medical colleges in the state to take special care towards the treatment of newborns.

In December 2019, over 100 infants died at the hospital, triggering a furore.