HISAR: A newborn gasped to death as his family desperately went from hospital to hospital, looking for a ventilator, for 15 hours between Wednesday and Thursday. The tragedy raises questions about neonatal healthcare in Haryana. The health department has promised an investigation into the family’s allegations. The infant was born to 26-year-old Pooja at Hisar Civil Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
The family hails from Bihar’s Aurangabad and had moved to Hisar for work some time ago. According to relatives, the newborn developed breathing complications an hour after birth and was shifted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The only ventilator available at the hospital was already occupied, forcing them to explore other health care centres, they said. Doctors referred the child to PGIMS-Rohtak (100km away) where the family was informed that ventilator support was unavailable at that time, said uncle Shravan Kumar.
‘Lone ventilator was in use’
He claimed the family waited all night before being advised to shift the child elsewhere. They returned to Hisar and approached a private hospital, where the infant was declared dead during admission, they said. Relatives demand an inquiry, alleging that timely access to critical care support could have saved his life.
Dr Reena Jain, PMO of Hisar Civil Hospital, said the NICU had only one ventilator, which was already in use. Agroha Medical College did not have an available ventilator either, which is why the newborn was referred to PGIMS Rohtak.ASI Surender Singh said they have received a complaint from the family and further action would be taken on the basis of findings of a inquiry.
