Tunisian health minister resigns over 11 baby deaths
The Tunisian Health Minister
Abderraouf Cherif has resigned following the deaths of 11 newborn babies
at a hospital in the capital, Tunis.
Tunisia's health ministry said evidence suggested they had all died from septic shock between 7-8 March.
Prime
Minister Youssef Chahed said investigations have been launched into the
state-run facility's medical, pharmaceutical and hygiene practices.
Mr Cherif's resignation comes just four months after his appointment.
In a Facebook post, Tunisia's paediatrics society said the infection may have been caused by an intravenous product.
The group also criticised "precarious conditions in which health professionals work".
Tunisia's
public healthcare had a reputation as one of the best in North Africa,
and medical tourism is a source of considerable revenue for the country.
But
since the overthrow of President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, the
system has been hampered by management and financial problems, along
with recurrent drug shortages.
BBC
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