New Delhi (NVI): Concerned over the death of a large number of children at the J K Lon Hospital of Kota Medical College in Rajasthan, the Centre is rushing a multi-disciplinary team of experts, including top paediatricians, which will reach there tomorrow.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said he has asked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to take proactive steps to avoid these preventable casualties.
In the letter to the Chief Minister, Vardhan said the Central government is ready to provide any technical assistance in the matter.
Requesting the Chief Minister to assess the situation properly, Vardhan wrote, “We look forward to your continued support and cooperation for improving child survival in the country, so as to ensure that no child succumbs to preventable causes or due to lack of our health system capacity.”
He told reporters here that a multi-disciplinary team of experts is being sent by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to support the state government for gap analysis and quick measures to be taken.
The team of experts will carry out a joint gap analysis along with the state Government in terms of clinical protocols, service delivery, manpower availability and equipment for maternal, newborn and paediatric care services in the Medical College Kota, Rajasthan.
A joint action plan will be developed based on gap analysis for providing required technical and financial support to Kota Medical College through National Health Mission and State Medical Education Department.
Vardhan said available information from Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) under the National Health Mission, and the state government have showed higher mortality rate of 20.2 per cent in J. K. Lon Hospital, Kota, during 2019 in comparison to the preceding two years — 14.3 per cent in 2018 and 4.3 per cent in 2017.
