Unexplained deaths of 32 patients

WE are appalled that 32 persons, including 10 babies, have died in less than 24 hours at MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet, allegedly due to negligence of doctors and hospital staff. This is unacceptable by any standard, and raises unsettling questions about the state of healthcare in our reputed public institutions. 

Five of the babies who passed away were in incubators, but the doctor in charge of the unit claims that there was nothing wrong with the machines. Reports state that the doctors were unavailable, and the staff unresponsive to repeated pleas from parents and relatives for urgent attention of the patients. In fact, there were no doctors present at the paediatric ward when seven babies died between midnight and 7:00 am on Tuesday. We find this callousness on the part of the hospital staff shocking and condemnable. 

The hospital authorities, admitting that the number of deaths was much higher than the average of 10-14 people who die each day at the hospital, have formed a three-member committee to probe the matter. It is imperative that this investigation is carried out in a fair and impartial manner, and appropriate actions taken against those responsible for these deaths.

We are dismayed that the State Minister of Health has stated there was nothing "unusual" about the deaths and that the patients died due to delays in reaching the hospital because of hartal and blockade. We urge the ministry to look into the deaths and address the failures of our healthcare system so that these unfortunate deaths are not repeated.