The West Bengal Health Department has removed the superintendent-cum-MSVP of Malda Medical College and Hospital, Prasenjit Bar, following a report by a four-member expert team into a series of child deaths at the facility. According to the expert team’s findings, 89 children died while undergoing treatment at the hospital during August, prompting the state health authorities to take administrative action and order a detailed review of the deaths.
The scale of the deaths came to light after reports indicated that more than 60 children had died at the hospital within a span of three weeks, including 10 deaths in a single day in August. The developments prompted the Health Department to send a four-member specialist team to the medical college, one of the key healthcare facilities in north Bengal. The team visited the hospital last week and subsequently submitted its findings to the state government.
The expert panel, headed by physician Pralay Acharya, identified several factors behind the deaths. These included malnutrition, respiratory distress after birth, cardiac complications, jaundice and low birth weight, among other medical conditions. The team has been examining the medical records and treatment details of individual cases to determine the specific circumstances surrounding each death. Officials have indicated that the deaths are being assessed separately rather than being attributed to a single cause.
The panel also flagged concerns over coordination between different departments of the district health administration, along with gaps in infrastructure and healthcare services. Acharya had said that steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, although he did not provide detailed explanations for the overall situation during his interaction with the media. A comprehensive report incorporating the panel’s observations is expected to be submitted to the state government.
The removal of the hospital superintendent followed the submission of the expert team’s findings. Malda Medical College principal Parthapratim Mukhopadhyay gave a brief response on the administrative change, saying, “The Health Bhavan report has come. There have been some changes.” The Health Department’s action comes as the authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the 89 reported child deaths and assess whether further measures are required at the hospital.
