7-year-old Avinash died of dengue after being denied to be treated in 2 private hospitals.
The Union Health Ministry has sought a report from the Delhi government over the death of a seven-year-old boy who died of suspected dengue after being refused admission by two private hospitals in the city. These two hospitals and three others have been issued show-cause notices by Delhi's Health Department for allegedly turning away dengue patients.
The response from the Centre and the Delhi government came after the parents of the seven-year-old boy, Avinash, committed suicide by jumping off the roof of a four-storey building in South Delhi's Lado Sarai.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda said his Ministry has sought a report from the Delhi government on the issue by September 14. He asserted that the "guilty will not be spared", and that action would be taken against those who violate the protocol for dengue treatment that has been laid down by the Centre.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain also warned of the "strictest" action against those who do not follow an advisory issued by his department on August 28, which made it mandatory for all hospitals and nursing homes to admit patient suffering from dengue.
"Delhi government has issued orders, that in all the hospitals, more beds should be made available to the dengue patients, postponing the treatment of other patients," Mr Jain told NDTV.
Private hospitals have also been asked to increase the number of beds dedicated to dengue patients by 10 per cent, he added.