Boy denied treatment at Delhi government hospital, HC takes note of severe negligence
New Delhi: A fractured arm, a desperate father, and a string of shocking denials – a young boy’s plight has exposed the grim reality of Delhi’s government-run healthcare system. The Delhi High Court is now demanding answers after a Class III student, injured in a schoolyard fall, was refused treatment at two hospitals.
The boy’s ordeal began on April 1. Rushed to Dr Hedgewar Aarogya Sansthan, he was met with a chilling “Cotton NA” on his emergency card, implying a lack of basic supplies. The boy was asked to buy the cotton from a private clinic. Referred to Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, his hopes were dashed again; doctors had allegedly left hours earlier. According to the reports, “no doctor was available as it was already 5.30 pm” and doctors had “left the hospital at 3 pm”. Forced to seek private care, his family incurred a hefty Rs 12,000 bill.
The petitioner visited a private clinic, which then referred him to Chandra Laxmi Hospital. Around 12.30 am, a plaster was eventually placed on his left arm. Justice Subramonium Prasad, taking note of the petition filed on the boy’s behalf, has issued a notice to the Delhi government. Demanding a status report within ten days, the court seeks a clear picture of the situation plaguing government hospitals in the capital.
“The mother of the petitioner is working as a maid and she borrowed Rs 12,000/- from her employer and paid the bill of Chandra Laxmi Hospital,” the plea filed by advocates Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh states. The petitioner in the plea highlighted that the denial of treatment to the boy for want of cotton and unavailability of doctors is “illegal, arbitrarily, unjust, malafide, discriminatory, unethical and violates the fundamental right to health as guaranteed to him under Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India”.
The petition highlights the violation of the child’s fundamental right to health, criticizing the “illegal and discriminatory” denial of treatment. It calls for reimbursement of medical expenses and compensation, exposing the Delhi government’s alleged failure to provide “free and quality healthcare.” The case resumes on May 30th, promising a crucial verdict on the state of Delhi’s healthcare system.