Russia Arrests Hospital Leaders After Nine Newborns Die
Negligence charges follow deadly outbreak at Novokuznetsk maternity hospital
- Nine newborns died at Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital No. 1 between January 4–12
- The chief physician and acting head of intensive care were arrested and charged with negligence
- Forensic investigations are ongoing, and regional authorities are inspecting all maternity hospitals
Russian authorities have arrested the chief physician and acting head of intensive care at a Siberian hospital where nine newborns died earlier this month, prosecutors confirmedy.
The Investigative Committee of Russia charged the two medical officials with negligence causing death, following the deaths at Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital No. 1 between January 4 and 12, 2026.
“Nine newborns died as a consequence of the suspects performing their official and professional medical duties in a substandard way,” the committee said, adding that forensic probes into each death are ongoing.
The exact causes of the deaths remain unclear, though regional health authorities said the infants were suffering from conditions passed on during pregnancy or childbirth. The hospital recently suspended patient intake due to a spike in respiratory infections.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and debate over staff shortages and chronic underfunding in Russia’s healthcare system. While local media reported the hospital is short of dozens of staff, hospital management denied the claims.
Political leaders condemned the incident. Valentina Matvienko, speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, called it a tragedy and urged that it “must never be repeated.” The governor of Kuzbass ordered inspections of all maternity and prenatal hospitals in the region, while pro-Kremlin lawmaker Yana Lantratova described the deaths as a crime against the country amid Russia’s demographic crisis.
The city of Novokuznetsk, home to about 500,000 people, still has one other operational maternity hospital, according to the regional health ministry.
