Mumbai: Baby dies waiting for medical help as hospital refuses Rs 500 & 1000 currency notes

Hospital authorities refused medical help to the child as his father had only currencies of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

Mumbai, Nov 12: An infant is the next victim of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation of Rs 1000 and 500 currency notes. After a woman from Telangana committed suicide thinking that the notes she possessed were of no value, here is another incident where in the government’s rule did not benefit the common man. A new born waiting for medical assistance at Jeevan Jyot Hospital and Nursing Home in Mumbai’s Govandi area.

Hospital authorities refused medical help to the child as his father had only currencies of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000. As per a Mumbai Mirror report, The boy’s father Jagadish Sharma, a carpenter, lodged a complaint at the Shivaji Nagar police station. He was advised to submit a letter that would be forwarded to the Maharashtra Medical Council. Although government directed hospitals to accept the banned notes, there has been several cases of refusal of admission and treatment of patients by hospital authorities. (ALSO READ-Telangana: Fearing Rs 500, 1000 notes she possessed were worthless, woman commits suicide)

Sharma’s wife Kiran who was under Dr Sheetal Kamath’s medical guidance underwent sonogrpahy tests at the hosptial. She was told that the baby was due around December 7. However, Kiran went into labour the next day and baby was delivered in the care of family members. As the baby was born premature, it weighed only 1.6 kg. Kiran who lost a lot of blood during delivery was rused to Dr Kamath for assistance. Kamath who gave primary care to her, refused further assistance as her husband did not currencies less than that of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. With no other way left, the baby and Kiran was sent back.

Although the baby was rushed to Dr Amit Shah in Chembur on Friday, the infant died. Dr Kamath accepted that medical care was refused due to the family inability to deposit money that is in circulation. She also said that the hospital did not have the facility of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care which the baby required, and so directed them to Sion hospital. Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant said that if he received a complaint on the matter, it will be directed to Maharashtra Medical Council for investigation.

Thane District Collectorate on Friday issued a show-cause notice to Fortis Hospital at Kalyan in the district for not accepting scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes from patients. District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar issued the notice based on the complaints made by several patients about the hospital not accepting banned notes. (ALSO READ- Currency Chaos: Two die outside banks in Mumbai, Kerala waiting for currency exchange)

In an surprise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetised the notes in a lash against black money, fake currency and corruption. On Friday, the Modi-led government had extended the use of old defunct 500 and 1,000 notes for paying household utility bills by another 72 hours to November 14. Payments of ultility bills, like electricity, water and house tax, using high denomination bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 upto November 14. was made legal.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday urged urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance minister Arun Jaitley to allow usage of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 at private hospitals and medicine shops till November 30. He had said that the it will ensure medical facilities to poor, who are facing issues after ban of high denomination notes, will be resolved. PTI quoted him saying, “As Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 were banned in haste, those undergoing treatment at hospitals and nursing homes are facing a lot of problems. I, therefore, request you to intervene and allow private hospitals, nursing homes and medicine shops to accept these notes till at least November 30.” (Image for representational purpose only)