Tragedy Strikes Novokuznetsk: Nine Newborns Lost in Hospital Crisis
Heartbreak at Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital
Families in Novokuznetsk are devastated after the tragic loss of nine newborns at Maternity Hospital No. 1 during the New Year holidays. This devastating event has exposed a series of interconnected issues within the hospital.
Infection and Understaffing
An intrauterine infection is believed to be the cause of the infants’ deaths. However, the root problem lies in the hospital’s severe staff shortages and poor management. During the holidays, janitors were reportedly filling in for midwives due to the lack of medical personnel.
Official Response
The local Health Ministry has acknowledged the severity of the situation and launched an investigation. The chief physician has been suspended, and regional investigators have also joined the probe, calling for expert examinations.
According to the Kuzbass Health Ministry, all the deceased infants had an intrauterine infection. Throughout 2025, the hospital received numerous complaints, and over 15 inspections were conducted, but no issues were identified.
Parents’ Harrowing Experiences
Parents have shared their horrifying experiences with the hospital. One father recounted how he was told his baby was healthy in the morning, only to be informed of the child’s death in the evening. The medical staff could not provide any explanation regarding the cause or timing of the tragedy.
- Many parents have accused the hospital staff of withholding information about their children’s conditions.
- In one case, a mother was blamed for her stillborn baby, with staff alleging she did not want the child enough.
- Another mother claimed that the entire hospital staff was ill, and her newborn contracted an infection due to the lack of protective measures.
- One woman went into labor prematurely, but the doctors delayed providing assistance. Her sister recounted how the woman ended up giving birth standing up, and the baby was caught by a janitor as it fell to the floor.
Ongoing Problems and Probes
The Kuzbass Health Ministry reported that between December 1 and January 11, 234 babies were born in Maternity Hospital No. 1. Of these:
- 32 were admitted to the intensive care unit
- 17 in critical condition
- 16 premature
All 17 critically ill infants were diagnosed with a severe intrauterine infection, and one had a primary immunodeficiency. Eight infants remain at risk, and four in particularly severe condition have been transferred to a regional children’s hospital.
The governor of the Kemerovo region has dismissed Vitaly Kheraskov, the chief physician of the Novokuznetsk City Clinical Hospital No. 1, following the scandal.
For more information, you can read the official report here.
