GMCH Newborn Death: Sister-in-Charge Arrest Triggers Nurse Protests, Raises Accountability Concerns

The tragic death of a newborn at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has sparked widespread controversy and unrest among hospital staff following the arrest of sister-in-charge Bhanupriya Mishong by Bhangagarh Police on Tuesday. Her arrest came a day after she was initially detained on the directive of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The incident has triggered strong reactions among nurses, medical personnel, and civil society observers, raising concerns about accountability, fairness, and systemic inadequacies in neonatal care at the hospital.

The arrest of Bhanupriya has been particularly contentious because nurses allege she was unfairly singled out, despite multiple staff members being on duty in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that night. Hospital records indicate that five nurses, including Bhanupriya, were present, alongside three doctors, two ward girls, and two cleaners. The controversy has drawn attention to the heavy workload and structural challenges within the NICU, which may have contributed to the tragic outcome.

Colleagues of Bhanupriya Mishong reported that at the time of the newborn’s death, she had temporarily stepped out of the NICU to prepare milk. They further revealed that the room she supervised contained 35 newborns, contradicting the official statement that reported 26 infants in the unit. This discrepancy has led to allegations of misrepresentation against the hospital Superintendent and Principal, Achyut Baishya, who the nurses claim underreported the number of infants in the NICU to downplay systemic shortcomings.

Staff shortages were also highlighted as a critical factor in the incident. Nurses pointed out that only one nurse was assigned to a room that ideally required three. In addition, one of the infant warmers in the NICU was reportedly non-functional, raising questions about infrastructural and logistical lapses at the hospital. These conditions, combined with the high patient-to-staff ratio, suggest systemic inadequacies that may have contributed to the newborn’s death.

After Bhanupriya’s arrest, she was transferred to Panbazar Police Station following a medical examination. Meanwhile, a group of her colleagues gathered at Bhangagarh Police Station, demanding equal accountability for all staff present in the NICU that night. The protesting nurses emphasized that punitive action, if necessary, should be uniformly applied to all staff on duty rather than targeting a single individual.

The incident has intensified scrutiny on hospital administration and the police response, with critics questioning why the doctors on duty have not been arrested or interrogated. Observers argue that focusing solely on the arrest of one nurse risks deflecting attention from broader systemic issues, including understaffing, inadequate infrastructure, and operational inefficiencies within the NICU.

The GMCH newborn death case thus raises serious concerns about governance, transparency, and accountability in healthcare institutions. It highlights the urgent need for hospitals to ensure adequate staffing, functional medical equipment, and comprehensive oversight in critical care units. The public outcry and protests underscore the importance of equitable enforcement of responsibility, suggesting that institutional reforms may be necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future. The case serves as a reminder that accountability in healthcare must extend beyond individual staff members to encompass systemic and administrative responsibilities, ensuring both patient safety and fair treatment of medical personnel.