Dr K K Aggarwal , President CMAAO, HCFI
The number of infants who died during treatment at JK Lone Hospital in Rajasthan’s Kota has taken the toll in December to 91 and 940 in the whole year. In 2014, 15,719 patients were admitted, out of which 1,198 died. In 2019, 16,892 patients were admitted out of which 940 died.
Rajasthan CM on Kota child deaths said these are normal deaths. He said we have been seeing 1300 deaths in a year and 900 number is not a concern This type of statement is not expected from any CM.
Facts
1.There are only 2 The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in that hospital each with 24 nursery beds.
2. One NICU with 12 beds is located at a distance and not fit for sick neonates
3.From August to December, with maximum delivery rate months, the bed occupancy is three times the number available NICU beds. The ideal patients to bed ratio should be < 75%
4.One NICU bed has 2 patients from January to august and three patients per bed from August to December
5.In that Kota hospital most neonates admitted are from outside deliveries delivered in nearby districts.
6. 40% deaths occurred within 24 hours of admission.
7.Major cause of death was prematurity or sepsis.
8.Most deaths were from outside referred cases.
The neonatal mortality rate in Rajasthan has been between 30-35 per 1000 live births.In order to arrest Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) in the state, the National Health Mission (NHM) had introduced the Assam model for effective implementation and monitoring of house based neonatal care (HBNC) programme.
Under HBNC programme, it is mandatory for ASHA to make six visits to the mother and the new born on 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 42nd day for institutional delivery and seven visits on 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 42nd day in case of the delivery at home.But still this amount of neonatal deaths is not acceptable. Each neonatal death should be probed and audited.
Local and National IMA and IAP should intervene.
MOH GOI should intervene and not leave any efforts just because the government is of congress and not BJP.{with inputs from J K Lone hospital faculty]
