The Union Health Ministry has sought a report from two hospitals here for denying treatment to a newborn baby having respiratory problems, resulting in its death.
The Union Health Ministry has sought a report from two hospitals here for denying treatment to a newborn baby having respiratory problems, resulting in its death.
"We have sought a report from RML and Kalawati Saran Children's hospital over the allegations of the deceased newborn's family that the death occured as hospitals denied treatment to their child," said a senior official from the Health Ministry.
According to relatives of the parents, the child was born in a private hospital in Budh Vihar on Sunday noon but doctors informed them that the baby had respiratory problem and needed to be kept on ventilator for 48 hours.
As the parents could not afford treatment at private hospital, they took the baby to Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital and RML Hospital. Both refused treatment citing non-availability of bed and ventilator.
They then took the child to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) where he was declared dead before treatment could be given.
Following the Union Health Ministry's directive, RML hospital has constituted a three-member committee comprising two doctors from Paediatric department and its Deputy Labour Welfare Commissioner to probe the matter. A report is likely to be submitted in a day or two.
"The Medical Superitendent (MS) Dr AK Gadpayle on Tuesday summoned the Head of Paediatric department and also the senior resident doctor who was on duty at 12.10 pm yesterday when the incident happened.
"Also the in-charges of Casualty and Emergency have been questioned by the MS in this regard," said a senior doctor at the hospital, and confirmed that the Health Ministry has sought a report from the MS. Authorities at Kalawati Saran Children Hospital however refused to comment on the issue.
The child's father, Dheeraj Kumar, had spent Rs 30,000, and could not afford another Rs 10,000 for the ventilator, said Bhuvnesh Kumar, a relative.
They then dialed 102 number and called CATS ambulance to shift him to a government hospital. The baby was first taken to Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital but the hospital refused admission and treatment saying that there was no bed or ventilator available there.
The newborn was then moved to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital but they also refused treatment citing the same reason. The child was finally taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP), the parents said.
"When we reached LNJP, they told us that they do not have portable oxygen cylinder. After repeated requests... doctors tried to lift the baby from the ambulance to admit in emergency ward.
"As they took him off the oxygen supply which was installed in the CATS ambulance, the baby died. He died due to lax attitude of government hospitals," Sharma alleged.
Reacting to the death, Delhi Heath Minister Satyendar Jain tried to put the blame on the Centre, saying Kalawati and RML hospitals come under the Union government. "The baby was taken to Kalawati and RML hospitals. Both the hospitals come under central government. He was then taken to LJNP where doctors immediately started the treatment but unfortunately baby could not be saved," he said.
Jain asserted that LNJP hospital did not refuse admission. "Admission is done after the treatment. Doctors started treatment of baby in emergency ward. LNJP hospital does not refuse to admit patients," he said.
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