Employee of the Investigative Committee at the maternity hospital of Novokuznetsk City Hospital. Photo - Investigative Committee / RIA Novosti / Sputnik / Profimedia.
According to information published by Meduza, TASS, and NGS42, nine newborns have died at the maternity hospital of the City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after Kurbatov in Novokuznetsk since the beginning of 2026. This fact has also been confirmed by the Ministry of Health of the Kemerovo region.
From December 1, 2025, to January 11, 2026, the institution received 234 births. There were 32 infants in intensive care, of which 17 were in critical condition, 16 of them were born prematurely, including children with extremely low birth weight. All 17 children suffered from severe intrauterine infections. The Ministry of Health noted that medical assistance was provided in accordance with clinical recommendations.
According to the agency, "unfortunately, nine children could not survive. Four babies remain under observation in the intensive care unit, while four others have been transferred for treatment to the Kemerovo Children's Clinical Hospital named after Professor Malakhovsky."
It has been reported that the maternity hospital temporarily stopped accepting patients a few days ago. According to NGS42, the reason for the closure could be cases of mortality among newborns or a shortage of medical staff. Anonymous sources reported that there is a staff shortage in the maternity hospital, which sometimes led to orderlies being assigned to nurse duties. The hospital's website states that hospitalization has been suspended due to an increase in respiratory infection cases and the implementation of quarantine measures, but emphasizes that there is no staff shortage.
The Investigative Committee of the Kemerovo region has opened a criminal case under the articles "Negligence" and "Causing Death by Negligence." Chief physician Vitaly Kheraskov has been suspended from work, and inspections at the medical institution are being conducted by the Kemerovo Prosecutor's Office, Roszdravnadzor, and Rospotrebnadzor.
The maternity hospital at Novokuznetsk City Hospital. Photo - Yaroslav Belyaev / TASS / Profimedia.
The father of one of the deceased newborns told the publication "Baza" that the medical staff concealed information about the children's condition from the parents. According to him, in the morning after the birth, he was told that his wife and child were fine, but later in the evening he learned about the baby's death. The man claims that the doctors refused to explain the reasons for the tragedy.
Ariana B., the mother of one of the deceased infants, stated that the entire staff of the maternity hospital was sick, coughing, and sneezing, yet ignored the need to wear masks and gloves. She noted that her premature child experienced blood pressure spikes and was transferred to intensive care, where he died. The doctor reported the cause of death as cardiac arrest, but an autopsy later revealed the presence of an infection.
Vitaly Kheraskov, the chief physician, stated that a viral infection capable of causing such cases was not detected in the hospital. He emphasized that each situation is considered individually. "All children were premature and had various diseases. The main thing is that there is currently no danger for pregnant women or residents," he noted. In an interview with Mash, Kheraskov categorically rejected accusations of guilt against the medical staff.
According to Elena Perminova, head of the Social Policy Committee of the Federation Council, many complaints had been received about the maternity hospital in Novokuznetsk. She expressed shock at the current situation: "I researched social media and saw many complaints from mothers about the staff and the condition of the maternity hospital." The publication Mash also reported complaints from patients about unsanitary conditions, the presence of insects, and poor-quality food in the hospital.
