Eight infants reported dead at Vehari hospital

Family members of the deceased claim deaths were caused by medical negligence, not faulty ventilators

VEHARI: Eight infants have died at the District Headquarter Hospital Vehari under dubious circumstances , Express News reported on Tuesday.

Malfunctioning ventilators and a lack of oxygen supply at the children’s complex of the hospital are being reported as the cause of deaths by hospital staff. However, family members of the deceased infants have claimed otherwise, pointing towards medical negligence.

Protesting against doctors and paramedical staff outside the hospital, family members of the deceased said the deaths were caused by the carelessness of paramedical staff, not faulty ventilators. They went on to allege that the hospital's staff were on their cellphones all night, leaving patients unattended for hours.

Further, Dr Maqbool Ahmed, in charge of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), has claimed that only four children have died due to malfunctioning ventilators. It has also been reported that Dr Ahmed and the nurse on duty, Sumaira Johnson, have been suspended following the incident.

Meanwhile, District Coordination Officer Jawad Akram has said that the children died due to lack of oxygen. An inquiry committee has been formed, according to Medical Superintendent Doctor Muhammed Ashraf, to investigate the matter. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has requested a full report on it by this evening.