Tunis opens probe into infant deaths at gov’t hospitals

By Adel al-Thabti

TUNIS (AA) – The Tunisian authorities have launched an investigation into the recent death of at least 15 infants at government-run hospitals, a Tunisian official told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

According to Sufian al-Sulaiti, a spokesman for the Tunisian public prosecutor's office, no suspects have been arrested so far, although investigations remain underway.

On Monday, acting Health Minister Saniyah Belsheikh described the spate of deaths as a “tragedy”.

She went on to assert that Tunisia’s local health sector was currently in the throes of a “major crisis”.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Abdel-Raouf al-Sherif tendered his resignation after the spate of infant deaths prompted widespread public anger.