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| India baby deaths probe announced | India baby deaths probe announced |
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| Authorities in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have begun an investigation into the deaths of six new-born babies in a hospital. | Authorities in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have begun an investigation into the deaths of six new-born babies in a hospital. |
| The babies died in a government hospital in Vijayawada city over the weekend. | The babies died in a government hospital in Vijayawada city over the weekend. |
| Parents have alleged that medical negligence led to the babies' deaths. Hospital officials say most of them died of "natural causes". | Parents have alleged that medical negligence led to the babies' deaths. Hospital officials say most of them died of "natural causes". |
| Reports say a shortage of oxygen and ventilators may have led to the deaths. | Reports say a shortage of oxygen and ventilators may have led to the deaths. |
| The deaths at a state-run paediatric hospital have angered local people who have protested outside the hospital, says the BBC's Omer Farooq in Hyderabad. | The deaths at a state-run paediatric hospital have angered local people who have protested outside the hospital, says the BBC's Omer Farooq in Hyderabad. |
| The state Human Rights Commission has also sought details about the deaths from the government and recommended action if any officials were found guilty of negligence. | The state Human Rights Commission has also sought details about the deaths from the government and recommended action if any officials were found guilty of negligence. |
| Treatment at the hospital is either free or at a nominal cost, and poorer families bring their children for treatment. | Treatment at the hospital is either free or at a nominal cost, and poorer families bring their children for treatment. |
| Shortage of ventilators | Shortage of ventilators |
| State Health Minister Sudharshan Reddy said while many babies at the hospital required ventilators, only one of them was in a working condition. | State Health Minister Sudharshan Reddy said while many babies at the hospital required ventilators, only one of them was in a working condition. |
| "The deaths happened because of the negligence of the doctors and nurses," said Durga Bhavani, whose baby boy died. | "The deaths happened because of the negligence of the doctors and nurses," said Durga Bhavani, whose baby boy died. |
| However, hospital chief Dr SB Lal said Ms Bhavani's child died because of asthma. | However, hospital chief Dr SB Lal said Ms Bhavani's child died because of asthma. |
| He said most of the babies had died of "natural causes" and only one was suspected to have died because of malfunctioning ventilators. | He said most of the babies had died of "natural causes" and only one was suspected to have died because of malfunctioning ventilators. |
| "The children were in a critical condition due to various ailments and we could not save their lives," Dr Lal said. | "The children were in a critical condition due to various ailments and we could not save their lives," Dr Lal said. |
| The 60-bed hospital has 20 incubators, but only seven of them are working. It does not have a centralised oxygen supply system. | The 60-bed hospital has 20 incubators, but only seven of them are working. It does not have a centralised oxygen supply system. |
| In 2002, 18 babies died over three days at a state-run hospital in the eastern city of Calcutta - the deaths were blamed on a shortage of oxygen and hospital beds. | |
| And in 2001, 11 children died in a hospital in the northern city of Lucknow, allegedly due to a lack of oxygen cylinders. | And in 2001, 11 children died in a hospital in the northern city of Lucknow, allegedly due to a lack of oxygen cylinders. |