Russian authorities have opened a criminal investigation following the death of nine newborns this month at a maternity hospital in the Siberian city of Novokuznetsk. Investigators suspect medical negligence, official services indicated on Tuesday, in a case that has sparked strong emotions across the country.
The State Investigative Committee specified that the hospital staff are being questioned, medical records have been seized, and forensic examinations are underway to determine the exact causes of death. The investigations focus on the conditions of infant care and compliance with medical protocols.
The hospital stated it admitted 32 babies to intensive care since December 1, including 17 in critical condition due to « severe intrauterine infections. » According to the facility, all newborns received care in accordance with current clinical protocols, but nine did not survive. Four babies remain in intensive care, and four others have been transferred to another hospital.
The case has been widely covered by Russian media, both public and independent, and has provoked an outcry on social networks. Many internet users expressed anger at what they perceive as serious dysfunctions in the healthcare system, with some demanding sanctions against responsible parties at various levels.
The governor of the Kemerovo region (Kuzbass), Ilya Seredyuk, announced the suspension of the hospital’s chief physician for the duration of the investigation. This decision, announced on the Telegram messaging platform, sparked numerous reactions, with several commentators questioning the country’s ability to improve its birth rate—a priority stated by President Vladimir Putin—if such tragedies occur.
When interviewed on television, the regional Health Minister, Andrei Tarasov, limited himself to stating that « an incident occurred » and that an investigation is ongoing. Furthermore, the hospital announced a temporary suspension of admissions due to a rise in respiratory infections and implemented quarantine measures, without mentioning the infant deaths as an official reason for this decision.
