Srinagar: Dozens of people on Thursday staged a demonstration outside a pediatrics hospital here where 350 newborn babies have died in the past five months.
The protestors, led by independent legislator from Langate Sheikh Rashid, gathered outside the GB Pant hospital at Sonawar in the cantonment area and raised slogans against the administration for its alleged failure to provide adequate health care to the people.
The authorities ordered a probe into the deaths yesterday after the number of infants dying in two weeks reached 35.
"It is a grave concern for all of us that over 350 infants have died over the past five months at the hospital. It demonstrates negligence on the part of doctors and the government," Rashid said demanding immediate measures to provide best healthcare facilities to the patients.
He asked the government to initiate "stern action" against the doctors for negligence of duties.
"Either close this hospital or ensure better treatment to the patients," he said.
Government has ordered a probe into the infant deaths at the hospital yesterday after it was reported that 35 newborn babies died within the last fortnight, raising the total number of deaths in the hospital this year to 358.
"We are examining the reasons and finding corrective measures so that precious lives are saved. The figure of 35 (deaths) is correct," Medical Education Minister R S Chib had said.
Chib said the specialists from the medical college will probe whether there was any negligence on behalf of the officials of the hospitals which led to the deaths.
"They will submit their report within a week and we will take action on their recommendations," he said.
The minister said the GB Pant Cantonment Hospital is the only referral tertiary care Pediatric hospital in the Valley where patients from across the Valley and parts of Jammu and Ladakh region visit for necessary treatment.
Chib said 62 doctors have already been deployed in the hospital for providing treatment to the patients, adding that due to heavy rush of the patients, however, the government is already in the process to engage more para-medicos and also to upgrade the existing equipment so that the patient care is substantially improved.
PTI
