The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday sought report from Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital after a video of a woman delivering her baby outside the Centre-run facility went viral on social media. It is being alleged that the woman was denied admission by the hospital. In the viral video, some women, including nurses, can be seen holding saree to cover the pregnant woman during the delivery. According to report, the hospital authorities have initiated an investigation after government's intervention.
A Union health ministry official told news agency PTI that a report has been sought from Safdarjung Hospital in the matter. Later it was learnt that five of the doctors have been debarred from duties till a high-level probe into the matter is completed.
Doctors were debarred from duties after a team from the Union Health Ministry visited Safdarjang Hospital for fact-finding in the matter of the delivery incident that took place.
However, the woman, who delivered a baby girl, has now been admitted to the hospital and both are doing well.
The 30-year-old woman is a resident of Khera, Ghaziabad and was taken to Safdarjung Hospital as she was due to deliver her baby, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Manoj C said.
"As per the allegations, she was not admitted to the hospital and she delivered a baby girl in the hospital premises. Now, the woman and her baby have been admitted to the hospital and both are doing well. They are being treated under a senior doctor in the gynaecology department," he said.
The Police Commissioner also informed that no complaint has been filed against the hospital by woman's relatives so far. However, her relatives alleged that hospital did not admit her on Monday and she spent the night outside its emergency department.
Meanwhile, Delhi Commission for Women has taken suo-moto cognisance of the issue and issued notice to the hospital's Medical Superintendent. The department has also sought a detailed report explaning the issue. It has also sought action against the staff responsible for the alleged negligence.