It seems Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, popularly known as Sishu Bhawan, Cuttack, is a virtual death trap as more than 5,900 infants have died while undergoing treatment in the last five years.
In the last 10 days, 45 infants have died in the referral health institution leading to anger among the people while the Odisha government is trying to check the deaths by pressing experienced doctors and other staff into service at Sishu Bhawan.
As per the health department report, as many as 3,869 infants have died in OPD, while 2,034 have died in ICU in the last five years from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
"While as many as 10,995 infants were admitted in indoor, out of which a total 488 infants died in OPD In 2010-11. Similarly 1,972 were admitted in ICU out of which 412 died during treatment in ICU," revealed the government figures.
In 2011-12, around 11,268 infants were admitted in indoor while 527 died during treatment and 454 died during treatment in ICU against the total admission of 1,982 infants, said the report.
A total of 837 infants died in indoor and 278 died in ICU in 2012-13 while around 11,560 infants were admitted in indoor and 1,822 were admitted to ICU.
In 2013-14, around 14,023 infants were admitted to indoor, out of which 903 infants died during treatment. Similarly, 2,016 infants were admitted to ICU out of which 326 infants died during treatment, the report added.
In 2014-15, 1,114 infants have died against the total admission of 17,899 patients to indoor. Five hundred and sixty four infants died during treatment in ICU while 2,183 infants were admitted to ICU, said the report.
In the last three months, 407 infants have died in both OPD and ICU.
While 84 infants died during treatment in OPD, 41 died in ICU in June this year. Similarly, 98 infants died during treatment in OPD and 54 died in ICU in July.
In the month of August (till August 23), as many as 1,591 infants were admitted in various wards, of which 82 died during treatment.
Shockingly, 48 infants have died while 134 infants were admitted to ICU during this period, said the report.
Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with health experts visited Sishu Bhawan to take stock of the situation.
"The centre will provide all support to revamp the Sishu Bhawan infrastructure, if the Odisha government seeks. A long term plan would be prepared for infrastructure development of the hospital," said Pradhan.
Odisha Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the state government is taking all steps to ensure better services in the hospital.
He said while 89 doctors and 173 staff nurses were engaged for 416 beds in the paediatric hospital, an additional six paediatric specialists and an equal number of nurses have been engaged from August 27.
