Hospital turns away minor rape survivor

The Delhi government-run pediatric hospital, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya (CNBC), is once again under the scanner after doctors deputed at the hospital were accused of denying treatment to the 5-year-old child who was sexually assaulted, allegedly by a school staffer, in east Delhi's Gandhi Nagar area.

On Monday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain requested Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal to suspend a CNBC staff member for not taking proper care of the minor rape victim. The 221-bed pediatric hospital, established in 2003, has been reeling under an acute staff shortage.

Of the 1,040 sanctioned posts, 329 posts in the hospital are lying vacant. The hospital got an autonomous status in October 2013 and after that the sanctioned posts had to be transferred to a society running the hospital, which has not happened till now.

"This is one of the top pediatric government hospitals in the Capital. But attention and care is missing. The government should put in more effort to improve the condition of the hospital," a senior doctor said, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, according to sources, four to five newborns are admitted to the hospital's neo-natal ICU daily. CNBC has the largest neo-natal critical care unit in the city. In the absence of facilities, however, most babies are now being referred to nearby private hospitals.