TMC’s Kalwa hosp reported 110 infant deaths in 6 months

Thane: Thane Municipal Corporation-run CSM Hospital, where 18 deaths occurred in a 24-hour period last year, is back in the news with the deaths of 110 infants in the last six months. The matter was raised in the state assembly on Friday.Dr Rakesh Barot, dean of CSM Hospital in Kalwa, confirmed the hospital recorded 110 deaths between Jan and June this year. The data provided by the hospital authorities showed that the highest number of deaths, 24, were recorded in April followed by 22 in March and 21 in June.Senior doctors at the tertiary hospital, which caters to a huge population coming from as far as Raigad and rural Thane, said most infants who succumbed to complications were admitted to the hospital in a very serious condition. “Many of the children were brought to us only after they had turned critical,” said a doctor.Another doctor said high death rates were witnessed due to delayed admissions at referral centres such as CSM Hospital. The average number of infant deaths is 18 per month, the doctor added.Local NCP SP functionary Mahesh Salvi said, “Despite the hospital being in the news last year after 18 deaths were reported in a day, precious little has improved. Whenever we approach them about improvement in facilities, the administration only comes up with excuses citing staff crunch, snags in machinery, inadequate medicines stock, among others.”Congress MLA Amin Patel from Mumbadevi raised the issue in the state assembly. “...21 newborn babies died due to negligence last month at Kalwa hospital. Who is responsible for these deaths?... Doctors claimed the newborn babies didn’t get essential medicines in time, causing their death... The state health minister should take immediate action against this and prevent a repeat,” said Patel.When contacted, the hospital authorities claimed most cases were brought to the facility in a critical condition. “In June, we attended to 512 deliveries, of which 294 were C-sections and 90 NICU admissions even though we have a capacity fot only 30. Around 19 of the 21 infants who died had low birth weight and were brought in very late for us to help. Six of these were referred to us by other hospitals, of whom three including five others died within 48 hours of admission. We did our best to save them,” said Dr Barot.It may be noted the hospital came under the scanner last year after 18 deaths were reported in one day following which chief minister Eknath Shinde directed the civic administration to improve the facilities.
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