Shahdol baby deaths: Health minister suspends CMHO, civil surgeon

BHOPAL: A day after six tribal infants died at Shahdol district hospital, health minister Tulsi Silawat inspected it on Wednesday - on instructions from chief minister Kamal Nath - and suspended the chief medical health officer and civil surgeon for the duration of the probe.


Silawat met families of children admitted to SNCU and patients in other wards and spoke with hospital staff.

"The CMHO and civil surgeon have been suspended till the probe is over. The district collector has been asked to investigate and submit a report, which will decide the next course of action," Silawat told TOI, adding that the kin of the babies who died would be contacted, and all help provided to them.

A BJP delegation, led by former minister Jai Singh Marawi, handed a memorandum to Silawat, seeking action.

The six babies had died in a span of 13 hours at the hospital between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, triggering allegations of negligence. CMHO Rajesh Pandey had denied any lapses and said, "Of the six, two were brought to the hospital in critical condition and were admitted to SNCU for more than 15 days. Three others had pneumonia in a late condition. All of them were given proper treatment and assistance of doctors from the medical college was also taken."