Ministry defends funding refusal but infant death experts point to data. But the ministry's defence that it needs more evidence of the pods' efficacy is at odds with international infant death experts. "The difficulty with [sudden infant] deaths is that the numbers aren't huge and proving that one particular thing is responsible is quite difficult." "You've got four years of data showing a reduced infant mortality and I'm not sure how many years of data your Ministry of Health needs." A lack of scientific research proving the safety of portable bassinets, called pepi-pods, meant the ministry had withheld funding, restricting their reach.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 14, 2016 16:52 UTC