Bribe at birth: Pay more if you have son at govt hosps
Rosana Maria Schellito TNN
Chennai:02.01.2019
Families of women who have babies at government maternity hospitals, where treatment is free, complain they end up paying at least ₹3,500 as bribes to ward boys, ayahs and other paramedical staff. They have to pay more if the newborn is a boy.
“I brought my daughter here thinking everything is free. It’s not. I was scared that they will not care for my daughter if I did not pay,” said S Mariamma, mother of a 21-year-old who was admitted to the Government hospital for women and children in Egmore last week. On Friday, when a statesponsored 108 ambulance reached the hospital in Egmore at around 9am, another family was asked to ₹900 for the “quick and safe” trip. The amount would be shared by the ambulance driver and two others who carried the stretcher, they were told.
After the duty doctors declared that the woman was in active labour, a ward boy who took her to the labour room on a stretcher took ₹200 from her husband, a daily wage labourer. The nursing assistant who prepared her for labour and ayahs in the ward demanded money from the family every time they came by to leave information about the woman’s condition. To ensure the families don’t raise an alarm, they talk to them about safety measures and RFID tags given to the hospital to prevent baby theft.
After four hours, the public address system announced that the woman had delivered a baby boy. A few minutes later the staff nurses brought the baby wrapped in a new towel. Soon, an ayah demanded ₹1000 for all women workers in the ward. “We don’t ask parents of girls to pay. We understand it can be tough on them,” the ayah said.
The family thought no more bribes would be sought. But ayahs from the labour ward demanded ₹700 for cleaning the patient. When the family argued, they agreed to take ₹500. “Besides paying bribes, we are forced to buy food here. My wife was hungry and I had to buy lunch for ₹150,” the newborn’s father said.
Two weeks ago, many hospitals came under the DVAC scanner after complaints. “We have appointed vigilance squads in all institutions. Patient and relatives can also complain against those demanding bribes,” said director of medical education Dr Edwin Joe, who is in charge of administration of all medical colleges and institutions like the Egmore women’s hospital attached to these colleges. Nearly 60% of the deliveries in the state happen in government hospitals.
FREE, REALLY?
Rosana Maria Schellito TNN
Chennai:02.01.2019
Families of women who have babies at government maternity hospitals, where treatment is free, complain they end up paying at least ₹3,500 as bribes to ward boys, ayahs and other paramedical staff. They have to pay more if the newborn is a boy.
“I brought my daughter here thinking everything is free. It’s not. I was scared that they will not care for my daughter if I did not pay,” said S Mariamma, mother of a 21-year-old who was admitted to the Government hospital for women and children in Egmore last week. On Friday, when a statesponsored 108 ambulance reached the hospital in Egmore at around 9am, another family was asked to ₹900 for the “quick and safe” trip. The amount would be shared by the ambulance driver and two others who carried the stretcher, they were told.
After the duty doctors declared that the woman was in active labour, a ward boy who took her to the labour room on a stretcher took ₹200 from her husband, a daily wage labourer. The nursing assistant who prepared her for labour and ayahs in the ward demanded money from the family every time they came by to leave information about the woman’s condition. To ensure the families don’t raise an alarm, they talk to them about safety measures and RFID tags given to the hospital to prevent baby theft.
After four hours, the public address system announced that the woman had delivered a baby boy. A few minutes later the staff nurses brought the baby wrapped in a new towel. Soon, an ayah demanded ₹1000 for all women workers in the ward. “We don’t ask parents of girls to pay. We understand it can be tough on them,” the ayah said.
The family thought no more bribes would be sought. But ayahs from the labour ward demanded ₹700 for cleaning the patient. When the family argued, they agreed to take ₹500. “Besides paying bribes, we are forced to buy food here. My wife was hungry and I had to buy lunch for ₹150,” the newborn’s father said.
Two weeks ago, many hospitals came under the DVAC scanner after complaints. “We have appointed vigilance squads in all institutions. Patient and relatives can also complain against those demanding bribes,” said director of medical education Dr Edwin Joe, who is in charge of administration of all medical colleges and institutions like the Egmore women’s hospital attached to these colleges. Nearly 60% of the deliveries in the state happen in government hospitals.
FREE, REALLY?
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