New Delhi: The parents of a baby born prematurely in a private nursing home in Buddh Vihar area in northwest Delhi on Sunday, with respiratory problems, were advised by the doctors at the private nursing home that the baby needed to be kept on a ventilator for two days at a cost of around Rs. 20000. The parents could not afford that cost and were forced to shift the baby to a government hospital, but died in his parent’s arms on Monday after two leading government hospitals refused treatment, while a third allegedly made them wait. 
The baby’s father Dheeraj Kumar, a labourer, said “I first took my child to Kalavati Saran Children’s hospital on Monday where doctors refused admission saying they did not have a bed with ventilator support. Then we took him to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. The doctors checked the baby but refused to admit him saying no beds were free,” alleged Kumar.
The baby was finally taken to Lok Nayak hospital. “By that time, my child was already critical. The hospital did not have a portable oxygen cylinder and doctors said he should be rushed to emergency. When we started crying for help, one resident doctor came and examined my child finally. He was dead by then,” said the newborn’s father.
The Union health ministry, sources said, has sought a report from Kalavati Saran and RML hospitals. They added that RML hospital has constituted a three-member committee to probe into the case. “The medical superintendent summoned the head of paediatric department and the senior resident doctor who was on duty at 12.10pm on Monday when the incident happened. The in-charges of casualty and emergency have also been questioned,” said a senior doctor at RML.
Delhi heath minister Satyendar Jain sought to put the blame on the Centre, saying Kalawati and RML hospitals come under it. “Both Kalawati and RML hospitals come under the central government. He was finally taken to LJNP where doctors immediately started treatment, but unfortunately baby could not be saved,” he said. Jain asserted that LNJP hospital did not refuse admission to the baby.
