Investigators in North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria have launched a probe after eight newborn babies died in the regional children’s hospital in the city of Nalchik, Russian Investigative Committee said on Saturday.
Eight newborn children, who were treated in the intensive care of the Nalchik’s children’s hospital, died during the first ten days of January.
According to the babies’ parents, electricity shortage could have caused the newborns’ death since seven of them were supported by the medical ventilators.
“The causes of the children’s high mortality rate in the hospital are being inquired,” Investigative Committee said in a statement.
The investigators, who launched a case on the criminal negligence charges, also check the legality of cutting out the electricity in the hospital.
The head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Arsen Kanokov, temporary suspended from office the republic’s Health Minister, Fatimat Amshokova on Saturday.
“I will take this case under the personal control, any similar story is a tragedy for us,” Kanokov said, adding that “those responsible for this act of negligence will be severely punished.”
Earlier the Health Ministry said that the checks, held in the hospital, have not revealed any violations by the medical staff and the electricity shortage had no connection to the babies’ death.
