West Bengal Infants' death: Union minister offers to send experts
Following crib deaths in Malda district of West Bengal, Union Minister of State for Health A H Khan Chowdhury today assured Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of help from the Centre including sending a team of experts of Health Ministry in this regard.
"I have written to the chief minister assuring her of extending all possible help from the Centre. I have informed her that if she agrees, we could send a team of experts from the Health Ministry to find out the reasons of the death of so many infants in different government hospitals in West Bengal in recent times," he said in a statement.
Stating that he was monitoring the situation personally, he said "I hope to receive necessary co-operation from the Chief Minister of West Bengal in trying to improve the situation of government hospitals in the state.
"I have been saddened by the events of last few days when 19 deaths of infants have been reported from Malda Medical College and Hospital. I have spoken to the Chief Medical Officer of the district yesterday."
"Health is essentially a state subject and the central government provides all possible help to state governments so that states are able to meet the healthcare needs of the people", he said.
