Chennai: After being held virtually hostage in a private hospital in Chennai where they underwent open hear surgeries, a group of ten Guyanese children have been allowed to go back.
On Friday the hospital had refused to discharge them, demanding settlement of its bill that is around Rs 45 lakh. An NGO that regularly brings children here wanted to settle bills the usual way, after returning to Guyana.
Following a media outcry the hospital has agreed to let the kids go and wait for six months for their payment.
"We never said we will not pay. That's not our intention. Allow us to pay the usual way, to raise funds and pay after returning," said Varshini Singh, founder of Kids First Fund NGO.
The children had to miss their flights. The state Health Department calls this unethical.
"They may argue from their point of view, but it's definitely unethical," said V K Subburaj, Health Secretary, Tamil Nadu.
But the hospital says it had no option.
It could be an unethical pressure tactic by the hospital or a strategy by the NGO, but the children who underwent open heart surgery have certainly been subjected to trauma and punishment for none of their fault.