HYDERABAD: A couple left their 13-day-old baby at a corporate hospital in Kanchanbagh on Tuesday night as they were unable to pay a bill of Rs 1.16 lakh for the infant’s treatment.
After the guard informed doctors and the police, the parents’ mobile phones were also found to be switched off.
According to the police, the couple, G. Nitin, 23, an auto driver, and G. Ravalika, 20, a labourer at Singareni Colony, had their baby on September 7 and admitted him to Niloufer Hospital the same night due to a severe lung infection.
The infant was treated in the critical care unit, placed on ventilator support and sent home as his health deteriorated. On a general physician’s advice, they admitted him to a multispecialty hospital.
While the infant’s condition continued to deteriorate, the couple was asked to pay a bill of Rs 1.16 lakh, but they were unable to do so.
“We received a call from a security guard of the hospital on Tuesday night, who stated that the couple left their infant at the hospital without clearing the bill. We suggested they get the address of the parents. So far, we have not received a complaint,” R. Padmaiah, Kanchanbagh sub-inspector of police said.
However, the couple’s family members refuted the allegation that they left the baby.
Prabhalika, Ravalika’s sister, said: “My sister managed to take out a loan and paid '35,000. My sister and brother-in-law are arranging for money. The doctors are treating my sister's baby. Soon, we will get her back.”
Meanwhile, Ravalika’s labour union has appealed to its members to pool funds.
“Ravalika works as a labour on daily wages. The couple is poor and not able to pay the hospital. I requested our association members to arrange money to clear the bill and get her treated,” said Moti Lal Naik, Sevalal Banjara Sang president.
