An Indian family alleged on Thursday (Aug 11) that their 10-month-old baby died after treatment was delayed by staff at a large, government-run hospital demanding bribes.
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The baby, who wRas admitted on Sunday, was suffering from fever and needed immediate treatment, but the alleged demand for bribe and the subsequent argument both sides made it too late for him to survive.
In June, a 75-year-old man died after he was allegedly refused admission to a hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata for not paying a 200-rupee (US$3) bribe. Next, it was the sweeper at the children’s ward who asked for a bribe to place the child on the bed that was allotted to them.
The child’s angry father accused staff of demanding bribes at nearly every step of the way. When she told the staff member that she would pay the next day, he told her that the injection will also be administered the next morning. The doctors don’t ask because they have fledging private practice. He also claimed his son was not given proper treatment by the nurse who gave him a wrong injection after which he died. An inquiry has also been set up.
The minister said he has taken serious note of the matter and directed the district magistrate to order an inquiry and send him the report within 24 hours. “It is a sad incident. Timely treatment in this case, could have saved a precious human life”, it said. Government hospitals in the state are doing their work. “Whosoever is guilty.be it paramedical staff, doctor or any other employee, he or she will not be spared”, Yadav said.
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“We are looking into the issue, a high-level departmental inquiry has been initiated”, says OP Pandey, chief medical superintendent.
