Infant dies as hospital denies cure over MP’s dues

A newborn girl from Dhar, who had holes in her heart, died on Monday after a Bengaluru hospital refused treatment under a scheme run by the Madhya Pradesh government which allegedly owed it ₹6 crore dues.

The child’s father Manoj Verma, a fruit seller, had taken her to Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Bengaluru hoping to get treatment by heart specialists there under the Rashtriya Bal Swastha Karyakram (RBSK) and Mukhyamantri Bal Hriday Upchar Yojana (MBHUY).

Under RBSK, all tests are done free of cost while the same applies for operations under the MBHUY for all children aged 0-18 years suffering from serious heart ailments.

“However, the hospital refused to give free examination under the RBSK scheme saying that the Madhya Pradesh government owed them ₹6.03 crore, which the government was not paying despite several reminders,” Verma said.

He also alleged that the hospital refused to give an estimate for the operation, as required under MBHUY.

Disappointed, he returned home after which his August 23-born daughter died.

Chief medical and health officer of Dhar district, Dr RC Panika, who gave the authorisation letter and wrote to the Bengaluru hospital, said he was not aware of the alleged dues.

“I have informed the district collector and higher-ups in the health department about the refusal ,” said Dr Panika.

State’s health ministers or officials were not available for comment immediately.