MUMBAI: The state health department has ordered the suspension of senior health department officials found prima facie responsible for supervisory lapses in the fire that claimed the lives of three newborn babies in a government hospital at Amravati on August 24.
Suspension proceedings have been initiated after a high-level inquiry into the blaze submitted its report to the state government last week. The blaze was triggered by a ventilator that caught fire in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the District Women’s Hospital. The state health department has ordered suspension of Sushikumar Wakchoure, deputy director of health services, Akola Circle; Dr Vinod Pawar, medical superintendent, District Women’s Hospital; additional district surgeon, Amravati; administrative officer; and the electrician of the District Women’s Hospital. Based on the inquiry committee’s report, AOV International has been blacklisted while investigations are underway into the possible role of a second company.
36 infants were shifted to other hospitals While three newborns died.
Sources said principal secretary, state public health department, Nipun Vinayak, has asked health commissioner Sanjay Katkar to hold regular meetings with the public works, electrical, fire services, bio-medical and maintenance and repair departments to review hospital safety.
