Ranchi, Aug. 30: More than 200 children, from newborns to 14-year-olds, died at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in July-August - the same period when over 100 baby deaths took place at MGM Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur - but the premier state-run hospital in Ranchi today tom-tommed it as an achievement, stressing that the toll was only a small fraction of the number of admissions.
Head of paediatrics and neonatology Dr A.K. Choudhary told journalists that 646 infants and children were admitted in August and of them, 543 had been saved. Similarly, in July, 588 babies and kids out of 698 returned healthy from RIMS.
"Now, that is a success rate of 84 per cent," the doctor said at a news conference in the presence of RIMS director Dr B.L. Sherwal who in an equally unfazed tone seconded that a 16 per cent average rate of child deaths (110 deaths in July and 103 in August) was "nothing unusual" in a tertiary care hospital like RIMS.
"At a tertiary care hospital, patients come from different parts of the state and neighbouring states. The toll is not alarming at all," Sherwal said.
The news conference, held in the afternoon, was in reaction to a report published in a vernacular daily today, suggesting an alarming spike in child deaths at Jharkhand's largest state-run hospital in the past 28 days.
By evening, RIMS medical superintendent Dr S.K. Choudhary was removed from his post with immediate effect, ostensibly for not co-operating with an audit team in July.
Explaining the toll at RIMS, paediatrician Choudhary said: "In August so far, 103 have died. All are in the age group of 0-14 years. Of these children, 64 died within 24 hours of their hospitalisation because they were admitted in the last stages. The toll after 24 hours is 39. These deaths took place owing to pneumonia, asphyxia, malaria and premature birth, among others."
MGM hospital, another state-run facility in Sakchi, Jamshedpur, is under lens of the NHRC, Jharkhand High Court and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) following a 100-plus neonatal and postnatal toll in two months. Even the Union home ministry has directed its intelligence agency to submit a report on crib deaths at MGM hospital.
Ahead of an inspection by SCPCR chairperson Arti Kujur tomorrow, RIMS admitted to double the number of child deaths.
But, Sherwal and Choudhary contended that between January and August, nearly 5,000 children had been admitted to the Ranchi hospital and more than 4,000 were saved. Of the total 660 deaths (see chart) , 413 children died within 24 hours of hospitalisation, they observed indirectly blaming family members for seeking last-minute hospital help.
Asked if RIMS had drawn up any plan to prevent child deaths, director Sherwal said he had discussed the issue with health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi.
"We are planning an ambulance service, which can be availed by dialling 108. It will help bring patients to the hospital on time and reduce the toll," the RIMS director said.
Sherwal also stressed on the need for social awareness. "Anaemic women should not become pregnant and a pregnant woman should seek medical advice to ensure institutional delivery," he added.
Late tonight it was learnt that Sherwal had already put in a request with the health department to be relieved of his services at RIMS, citing a job opportunity in Delhi.
