UP shame: Infant dies in govt hospital after parents fail to bribe the staff

In a shocking incident, a 10-month-old boy died in a government hospital here allegedly after he was not given timely treatment by the staff as his parents could not pay the bribe demanded by them, prompting the health minister to order a high-level inquiry.

The infant’s father, Shivdutt, a daily wage earner, alleged that Krishna died because the hospital staff delayed administering a crucial injection to him and wasted time in demanding bribe for providing treatment.

The victim’s family also alleged that the infant was given “a wrong injection” by the nurse leading to his death on the morning of August 9 in the district hospital, 130 km from state capital Lucknow.

As the incident sparked outrage, the state government swung into damage-control mode with Minister of State for Health SP Yadav directing the district magistrate to conduct an inquiry and send him the report within 24 hours.

Shivdutt said his son was down with high fever and he had admitted him in the district hospital on August 7 for treatment after paying Rs 100 to the nurse and Rs 30 to a sweeper for securing a bed in the children’s ward.

He said after a doctor asked the couple to admit the child, the nurse was allegedly the first to demand extra money to arrange the medical papers.

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. He also claimed his son was not given proper treatment by the nurse who gave him a wrong injection after which he died.

The infant’s mother alleged that on Tuesday morning a medical assistant asked them for money to get a crucial injection for Krishna.

“I asked him to give me some time...I promised to give him whatever amount he asked for,” Sumita said. The minister termed the incident as an isolated one. “We will take action on the basis of the report. Whosoever is guilty...be it paramedical staff, doctor or any other employee, he or she will not be spared,” Yadav said.

“It is a sad incident. At the same time it is an isolated incident. Government hospitals in the state are doing their work. Sometimes there are reports of negligence, but this is an isolated case,” he said.

“Chief Medical Superintendent of the district hospital O P Pandey instituted an inquiry against nurse Asha Singh by a panel of three doctors. She has been removed from the ward,” he said, adding the sweeper, who took money, has been sacked.

The Chief Medical Superintendent, however, ruled out administration of wrong injection, saying it was an antibiotic injection and there was nothing wrong in it.