Neonatology Hospital I in the Russian city of Novokuznetsk, PHOTO: Yaroslav Belyayev / Zuma Press / Profimedia Images
Russia has opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of nine newborn babies this month amid suspicions of negligence at a maternity hospital in Siberia, Reuters reports.
The State Investigative Committee said staff were being questioned, medical records had been seized and forensic examinations were underway to determine the cause of the deaths in the city of Novokuznetsk, population 550,000.
The hospital said it had treated 32 babies in the intensive care unit since December 1, including 17 who were in critical condition with “severe intrauterine infections”.
“All newborns received medical care in accordance with clinical guidelines. Unfortunately, nine babies did not survive,” it said in a statement.
Four babies were still in intensive care, and four others were transferred to another hospital, the institution said.
The deaths of the babies have been widely commented on in Russia
The case was widely reported by Russian state media as well as independent media outlets, and caused outrage on social media.
Ilya Serediuk, the governor of Siberia's Kuzbass region, where the hospital is located, said the facility's chief physician had been suspended pending an investigation.
His announcement, made on the Telegram messaging channel, generated dozens of shocked and angry comments about the state of the health care system.
Some have called for the dismissal of senior officials, while others have questioned how Russia can expect to raise its low birth rate – a key priority set by President Vladimir Putin – if such tragedies are not prevented.
Asked about the deaths in a televised interview, regional health minister Andrei Tarasov replied evasively: “There was a situation. An investigation is underway at the moment.”
State media broadcast video footage of investigators walking around the hospital inspecting documents.
The hospital announced on its website that it had suspended admissions due to an excess of respiratory infections and was applying quarantine measures. The facility did not cite the deaths of the babies as a reason for not accepting new patients.
