Rostov Region Health Ministry Inspects Maternity Hospitals After Tragedy in Novokuznetsk

In response to the death of nine infants at the Novokuznetsk perinatal center in early January, the Rostov Region Health Ministry organized inspections at maternity hospitals in its territory. The ministry stated:

The Rostov Region Health Ministry is conducting departmental control measures in maternity hospitals of subordinate medical organizations, and managers have been instructed to carry out internal checks on the quality and safety of medical activities.

Upon completion of these measures, decisions will be made on further control steps.

All nine newborns in Novokuznetsk died within a few days during the New Year holidays, leading to a quarantine at the perinatal center. Officially, the cause was named as an intrauterine infection, due to which eight more infants remain in serious condition. However, experts express doubts about this version.

Later, on January 22, another child died at the same facility. His mother linked the death to a bacterial outbreak and unsanitary conditions. Kemerovo Region Governor Ilya Seredyuk initially stated that the mothers of the deceased had not been under medical supervision during pregnancy, and some were admitted to the maternity hospital in a state of alcohol intoxication, but he later apologized for his words.

Earlier, the publication 161.RU collected feedback from female residents of the Rostov Region about local maternity hospitals. Some women claimed that the conditions in the medical facilities were dangerous to health and life.