Hospital sources say they have written to the state Health department to procure the serum, but it is likely to come only by the end of September.
A total of 85 children were admitted for diphtheria in Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kingsway Camp alone from September 6 to 19, and as of Friday, the disease had claimed 14. The family of Shifa, who fell victim to the deadly disease on Thursday, say only one pharmacy in the Capital has monopoly over anti-diphtheria serum injections which could have saved her.
Arif Khan, the six-year-old's maternal uncle, says the North Delhi Municipal Corporation-run (NDMC) hospital did not have the eight-course serum and the staff directed him to the only chemist who stocked it – located 30 km away.
Hospital sources say they have written to the state Health department to procure the serum, but it is likely to come only by the end of September. When contacted, Medical Superintendent Dr Sushil Gupta remained unavailable for comment.
Shifa showed symptoms of diphtheria on Monday, and was referred to Valmiki Hospital. The family says that despite reaching the hospital in time, the doctors did not tend to her and the serum was not available either.
"Despite taking her to the Emergency ward," says Khan, "it took a long time for the doctor to see her. We were asked to get a pack of eight injections to be given to her right away, but they were not available at the hospital."
He says he spent the next two-and-a-half hours looking for the serum at various pharmacies in the vicinity, but to no avail. Then, some hospital attendants directed him to a chemist in Rajouri Garden. By the time Khan got them, it was past midnight, and too late.
"I live here (at Kingsway camp) and could travel to Rajouri to get the injections at a cost of Rs 10,300," says Khan. "But many families come to the hospital from rural areas and would not know what to do and where to go," said Khan.
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