BENGALURU: After the shocking death of four infants at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), the Department of Health and Family Welfare formed an expert team to investigate the matter, amidst allegations of medical negligence.
Dr G. Vamadev, Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare said that a five-member expert team was sent to KIMS on Saturday to look into the deaths.
“As per the orders by the health ministry, I had formed a five-member team and sent them to KIMS,” Dr Vamadev said. The team was headed by Dr Naveen Benkappa, a neo-natologist from Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and other members were Dr Vijay Kumar, deputy director of the health department, Dr Suresh, lead consultant from the National Health Mission (NHM).
Dr Vimochana, deputy director of child health and Dr Archana BIlagi, Secretary, National Neonatology Forum (NNF) Karnataka.
According to Dr Vamadev, the team would submit its report on Monday. “We need to know whether there was a problem with the protocol followed by doctors or whether precautions were taken at NICU.
“I have asked my team to look into the facility, see the protocol management of these cases, usage of drugs, NICU precautions and interrogate the doctors and staff there accordingly,” Dr Vamadev said.
The main aspect is to ascertain whether these deaths were preventable, he said.
Spread of infection not ruled out
The committee is clearly not ruling out rumours of deaths being caused due to spread of infection, which was denied by hospital authorities. “There can be a huge possibility of an infection spread as well, so we cannot rule it out.
“There are guidelines under the NICU laws in which hospitals are supposed to follow infection control measures periodically. Every hospital needs to have an infection control committee and they should check the wards for culture and carry out fumigation accordingly,” Dr Vamadev said.
The director adds that there might be chances of cross infection or hospital associated infection as well.
