“The case fatality rate of the unit is about 7 per cent. The rate till 10 per cent is acceptable for neonatal units. A committee has been formed under the Head of Department of Neonatal Care Unit of civic-run Sion hospital and it will submit a report within seven days. The swabs from equipment, machinery have been sent for testing,” said officials from the BMC. 

Of the four babies, one was admitted on December 14 and died on December 20 due to Cardiorespiratory arrest due to septic shock. Another baby who was admitted on December 12 died on December 21 due to cardiorespiratory failure due to septic shock with RDS. The cause of the death of the baby who was admitted on December 16 and died on December 23 was early onset sepsis with shock with RDS in preterm iugr (growth of the baby is not adequate). The baby who was admitted on December 16 and died on December 23  due to convulsions.

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There are three more babies in the NICU, who were admitted from other hospitals, one of whom is on ventilator support. A BMC official said, “All the babies were born in other hospitals and came from Malad, Oshiwara, Cheetah Camp and Mulund. There are very few units who admit neonatal babies from other hospitals.” A BMC official said, “The babies had MDR Klebsiella infection. The infection has resistance to many drugs and needs the utmost care.”

Prabhakar Shinde, group leader of BJP in the BMC, said, “The NICU of the hospital is not run by the corporation. Its contract has been awarded to a private medical institution. Negligence by the institute and the BMC has led to the unfortunate deaths of the newborns.” Shinde has demanded that the private body be removed and that their medical licence and registration be revoked. “I have asked for a detailed report and action will be taken accordingly,” said Rajul Patel, chairperson of the BMC health committee.