Unable to pay hospital bills, family awaits son's body

Ludhiana, Dec 31 (IANS) Unable to pay dues running into thousands of rupees of a leading private hospital in this industrial city of Punjab, a family was Wednesday evening awaiting help of the authorities to get the body of their one-year old son for cremation.

The beleaguered father of the child, Joginder, who is a poor laborer in Jalandhar, appeared before the deputy commissioner in Jalandhar Wednesday to seek his help.

He told the district officer that the D.M.C. Hospital authorities had not handed over to him the body of his son for the last four days as dues of medical treatment, running into Rs.43,000, were not paid.

'I am a poor man. I am left with nothing. I sold my house and other belongings worth Rs 1.5 lakh (Rs.150,000) to save my child. I have no more money to get his body released now for cremation,' Joginder told the officer.

The toddler died after developing stomach complications. He was first admitted to a private hospital in Jalandhar but was referred to the D.M.C in Ludhiana as his condition deteriorated.

Officials at the D.M.C. hospital claimed that the father never approached them to seek waiver of the dues of treatment.