The private neonatal hospital, where seven newborns perished and five sustained injuries in a fire, continued operating despite its license expiration, according to police. The hospital lacked qualified doctors and fire department clearance, revealed investigations conducted on Sunday.
“The license issued to Baby Care New Born Child Hospital by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of Delhi, expired on March 31,” stated Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhary. “Even the expired license allowed for only five beds.”
At the time of the incident, 12 newborns were under hospital care, the officer noted. “During investigations, we found that the doctors lacked the qualifications to provide necessary Neo-Natal Incentive care, as they hold BAMS degrees only,” added the DCP.
Furthermore, the hospital lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits, crucial for fire safety measures. Officials from the Fire Department disclosed that the hospital lacked a No Objection Certificate (NOC). “The building has no fire NOC. We will scrutinize related documents further on Monday,” said an official from the DFS, preferring anonymity.
The hospital owner, Dr. Naveen Kichi, who had been evading authorities since the fire incident, has been apprehended by the police. The Delhi government has initiated a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy.
Following the incident, District Magistrate (DM) Ritisha Gupta, arriving at GTB Hospital, encountered aggrieved family members demanding justice. “Every visiting official remains tightlipped. They can’t answer if the hospital was legal or possessed any NOC from the fire department,” expressed Ritik, who lost his 10-day-old child.