Malda Medical College Under Scanner After 60 Neonatal Deaths
What Happened
West Bengal's health department has ordered an inquiry after 60 newborns died at Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) during the first three weeks of August, including 10 deaths on a single day (August 12). Authorities are reviewing the hospital and several private hospitals, nursing homes and block-level facilities from which many of the infants were referred.
Key Takeaways
Hospital officials say most of the babies arrived in critical condition as referral cases, with reported causes including respiratory distress, jaundice and congenital heart disease. The state has launched a broader probe into neonatal care and referral practices, inspecting multiple healthcare facilities linked to the cases.