Reuters, New Delhi :
The city government in India’s capital has threatened to cancel the licences of private hospitals over allegations by distraught families that they turned away dying children during a lethal outbreak of dengue fever.
The worst outbreak in five years of the mosquito-borne disease, for which no vaccine exists, has exposed inadequate public health measures to combat it and overwhelmed both government and private hospitals.
Authorities have ordered surprise inspection at private hospitals to ensure they comply with last month’s order not to turn away dengue patients. Doctors’ leave has been cancelled to help cope with the influx of sick people.
The measures were ordered after reports that two children died after being denied treatment at prominent city hospitals. “It is heartbreaking,” said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “We have become blind in the race to make more and more profit. We shouldn’t forget our humanity.”
A six-year-old boy died after allegedly being turned away by five hospitals, his family said, including one owned by Max India, one of the country’s largest healthcare providers. A spokesman for Max did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At the weekend, the parents of a seven-year-old boy jumped from a four-storey building in south Delhi, after their only child died of dengue. The couple left a one-page suicide note saying his death had prompted them to end their lives.
The boy’s medical reports showed he was referred to five prominent private hospitals in the capital. He was eventually admitted to another private hospital, but died soon after.
AP adds: New Delhi has been hit by an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease, with more than 11 deaths. About 1,900 cases have been recorded in the city’s hospitals.
The families of two boys have said they died after being denied treatment at a number of hospitals, and a married couple reportedly killed themselves when their only child died after being rejected at five hospitals.
“No patient arriving at a hospital with dengue should be turned away,” Health Minister Satyendra Jain told reporters.
He said he has ordered private hospitals in the capital to hire more doctors and increase the number of beds available for dengue patients. Hospitals have reported a shortage of beds and staff as they try to cope with the throngs of patients.
Dengue’s symptoms include severe muscle and joint pain, high fever and rash. Its most acute forms can cause internal bleeding and death.
In many state-run hospitals, two patients were sharing each bed.
“There are 20,000 beds available. And we will increase the number of hospital beds by another 1,000 by this weekend,” Jain said.
The health minister tried to calm people’s fears that the outbreak was spreading rapidly, with more than 600 cases reported last week alone.
“It is not an epidemic. But people are panicking,” Jain said.
The city government in India’s capital has threatened to cancel the licences of private hospitals over allegations by distraught families that they turned away dying children during a lethal outbreak of dengue fever.
The worst outbreak in five years of the mosquito-borne disease, for which no vaccine exists, has exposed inadequate public health measures to combat it and overwhelmed both government and private hospitals.
Authorities have ordered surprise inspection at private hospitals to ensure they comply with last month’s order not to turn away dengue patients. Doctors’ leave has been cancelled to help cope with the influx of sick people.
The measures were ordered after reports that two children died after being denied treatment at prominent city hospitals. “It is heartbreaking,” said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “We have become blind in the race to make more and more profit. We shouldn’t forget our humanity.”
A six-year-old boy died after allegedly being turned away by five hospitals, his family said, including one owned by Max India, one of the country’s largest healthcare providers. A spokesman for Max did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At the weekend, the parents of a seven-year-old boy jumped from a four-storey building in south Delhi, after their only child died of dengue. The couple left a one-page suicide note saying his death had prompted them to end their lives.
The boy’s medical reports showed he was referred to five prominent private hospitals in the capital. He was eventually admitted to another private hospital, but died soon after.
AP adds: New Delhi has been hit by an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease, with more than 11 deaths. About 1,900 cases have been recorded in the city’s hospitals.
The families of two boys have said they died after being denied treatment at a number of hospitals, and a married couple reportedly killed themselves when their only child died after being rejected at five hospitals.
“No patient arriving at a hospital with dengue should be turned away,” Health Minister Satyendra Jain told reporters.
He said he has ordered private hospitals in the capital to hire more doctors and increase the number of beds available for dengue patients. Hospitals have reported a shortage of beds and staff as they try to cope with the throngs of patients.
Dengue’s symptoms include severe muscle and joint pain, high fever and rash. Its most acute forms can cause internal bleeding and death.
In many state-run hospitals, two patients were sharing each bed.
“There are 20,000 beds available. And we will increase the number of hospital beds by another 1,000 by this weekend,” Jain said.
The health minister tried to calm people’s fears that the outbreak was spreading rapidly, with more than 600 cases reported last week alone.
“It is not an epidemic. But people are panicking,” Jain said.
