Cuttack, Aug. 24: The death of 21 newborns in the past four days at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Paediatrics has raised questions about the infrastructure and facilities at the hospital.

Four more deaths were reported at the institute, popularly known as Sishu Bhavan, today, taking the total number of infant deaths to 17 in the past three days. Most of the deaths took place at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Yesterday, additional district magistrate Bibhuti Dash started a detailed probe to ascertain the reasons behind the deaths of as many as eight infants on August 21. So far, families of two infants have lodged complaints at the nearest police station, alleging negligence on the part of the hospital authorities.

Besides, the uproar over the deaths today forced the state government to order a detailed inquiry. Earlier, the Cuttack district administration had initiated a probe recording the statements of 12 nurses and five doctors.

The Sishu Bhavan authorities have also formed a four-member experts committee to thoroughly probe into the allegations of negligence. The panel would submit its report to the hospital superintendent tonight.

Alleging lack of proper treatment and misbehaviour by the hospital employees, especially the nurses, some parents are moving their babies out of Sishu Bhavan.

"I had admitted my child at Sishu Bhavan with great hope, but the behaviour of the nurses and other staff members forced me to take my newborn to a private hospital," said one Narsingha Mishra.

Besides, lack of proper counselling and emergency treatment during odd hours remains a major problem for people visiting the medical facility. There are also allegations that despite the presence of diagnostic and pathological facilities at the hospital, the staff members, including some doctors, keep putting pressure on the parents to have tests conducted elsewhere.

Lack of adequate beds at the ICU has emerged as a major obstacle in providing treatment to the critically ill patients here. At present, there are only 21 beds in the two ICUs - one being the newborn intensive care unit, which has nine beds, and the other is the paediatrics intensive care unit with 12 beds.

The issue has also taken a political turn with the Cuttack Nagar Congress Committee blaming the BJD-led state government for the poor infrastructure at Sishu Bhavan. "The ICU does not have adequate beds and there is an acute shortage of doctors and nurses at the hospital. It is taking a heavy toll on health care," said committee president Mohammad Moquim.