UP woman gives birth outside hospital, family alleges staff denied admission

A woman delivered baby outside Rae Bareli district hospital after her family alleged she was denied admission during labour. The case, the second such report in Uttar Pradesh within a week, has triggered an inquiry into maternity care lapses.

In Short

• Family alleges staff refused admission despite labour pain
• Second such case in UP within a week highlights systemic issues
• Inquiry ongoing into denial of care for pregnant women in UP

A woman delivered a baby outside the district hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli after her family alleged that staff at the facility did not admit her despite labour pain. The claim surfaced in a video that circulated on social media on Sunday.

In the video, Archana, a relative of the woman, said she had brought her sister-in-law to the hospital on Saturday after she developed labour pain. She alleged that the staff first told the woman to keep walking and later took her to the labour room several times, but did not formally admit her and sent her back without delivery. Archana also alleged that a staffer demanded Rs 10,000 for the delivery and told them not to tell anyone about it. During this time, the woman gave birth outside the hospital.

District Women's Hospital superintendent Nirmala Sahu denied the allegation that hospital staff demanded money. She said she sought information from doctors and other staff after learning about the incident. She also said security personnel were questioned to find out how the woman was able to leave the hospital premises.

"The security personnel have been reprimanded. Strict action will be taken against whoever is found responsible," Sahu said.

This is the second such case reported in Uttar Pradesh within a week. On September 28, 20-year-old Rani Vanvasi was allegedly denied admission at Maharaja Chet Singh Government District Hospital in Bhadohi on the grounds that she was anaemic and blood could not be arranged. The chief medical officer later said her brother was ready to donate blood, but no such arrangement was made. Rani later delivered on a roadside the next night with the help of women accompanying her. Her family alleged that doctors and a staff nurse refused to touch her after learning that she belonged to the Musahar tribe and denied her admission.

The Rae Bareli case, now under inquiry, has again put the focus on allegations that pregnant women in Uttar Pradesh were denied admission and were forced to deliver outside hospital facilities.

- Ends
With PTI inputs