Despite bed availability and assurances to help, a private hospital in Patparganj denied treatment to a critically ill two-day old child under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.

Member of the Delhi High Court appointed Economically Weaker Section (EWS) monitoring committee, Ashok Agarwal claimed that he has been forced to write to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking his aid to save the life of the child, who was denied admission to Max Hospital, Patparganj in East Delhi.

“A private hospital in Patparganj literally denied treatment to a two-day old male child under EWS category,” noted Mr. Agarwal in his letter.

He noted that the relatives of the child (patient) have been harassed for the last two days and the patient though very critical has not been admitted any hospital.

“I have been in the constant touch with the EWS nodal officer of the private hospital who has assured me that the child will be looked after. Nothing has been done so far,” he noted stating that this refusal to take in the EWS patient is a clear case of violation of High Court orders.

All efforts to get a response from the hospital, however, failed to yield any result.

The advocate has noted that as per the Delhi Government guidelines immediate action should be taken against the erring private hospital.

“What is worse is the fact that the bed status of the this private hospital in Patparganj in the last two days is that out of the 40 EWS beds, 28 are lying unoccupied,” noted the advocate.

In his letter to the CM, Mr. Agarwal has informed that the child born on February 17 had some medical problem and was taken to Chacha Nehru Hospital. Here the parents were told that the child was suffering from a serious problems and was referred to Lok Nayak Hospital the same day.

The doctor at Lok Nayak Hospital examined the child and the parents were advised admission. However, the said child was denied further treatment on the alleged ground of non-availability of bed.

“Worried, the parents approached me and I directed them to the private hospital to be taken in under the EWS category which has been stalled by the medical centre,” said Mr. Agarwal.

“We request immediate action and treatment for this critically ill child,” said the advocate.