Kolkata, Oct 31 (IANS) Demanding a full-time health minister for West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mahila Morcha president and MP Smriti Irani Monday criticized the lack of basic infrastructure at Bengal’s largest children sickbay — B.C. Roy children’s hospital that has seen more than 20 crib deaths this month.
‘There is no blood bank, scan or echo facility here. There is lack of even basic infrastructure. How could the government give a clean chit to the hospital? There is need for a dedicated full-time health minister,’ Irani said here.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also holds the health portfolio.
The state-run B.C. Roy children’s hospital has been in the news for more than 20 crib deaths since Oct 25. Another 18 babies had died in June.
Following the deaths, the chief minister had ordered a probe on both occasions. Enquiries on both counts had exonerated the hospital staff of any negligence.
