The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed that an 11-year-old boy, who needed a liver transplant and could not afford to pay for it, be treated at the Institute of liver and Biliary Sciences (IlBS).
Justice Vibhu Bakhru passed the direction on a petition by the minor’s mother, who belongs to the economically weaker section (EWS) of society. She had alleged the IlBS refused to acknowledge a National Food Security Card as valid income proof and denied her son free treatment.
The petition said the child was at present admitted to RMl Hospital, which wrote to IlBS on August 22 so that the minor’s case for a liver transplant could be considered. The counsel for IlBS submitted that in accordance with directions from the Delhi Government, the institute was providing free medical treatment to EWS category patients and would extend the facility to the minor, too.
The court said, “In these circumstances, the petition is disposed of by directing the Ram Manohar lohia Hospital to ensure that the petitioner (child) is transported in an ambulance along with all the medical records in order that treatment can be provided to him by IlBS.”