Hospital baby sellers still exist despite crackdown

Hyderabad: There has been a decrease in baby-sales numbers but lower cadre staff at hospitals still act as middlemen between prospective buyers and families willing to sell. Also, parents seeking a male child prefer this route as the number of male children available for adoption are less and there’s also a minimum 4-year waiting period.

“Most hospitals have complied with new CCTV norms to catch baby thieves. But there may be staff who indulge in such activities,” said Dr C.R.K. Prasad, former general secretary, AP Doctors Association, said. Dr S. Saikrishna, consultant paediatrician, said most cases of male babies being sold at hospitals involved those born outside of marriage. Girl babies are sold because the family does not want the child. “In a few cases, grandmothers of the babies sell the baby with the intention of saving the woman’s marriage,” he said. “Many doctors and hospitals are not aware of the adoption policy. They should know the consequences for violating the rules,” he added.