Indian Couple Are Forced To Sell Their Newborn To Hospital Because They Could Not Afford Medical Bills

The rickshaw driver and his wife did not have the money, so the hospital ‘bought’ the child for 100,000 rupees (£1,000) to settle the bill.

Shiv Charan and his wife Babita were left with a bill of 35,000 rupees (£350) after their baby son was delivered by caesarian section at the hospital in Agra.

The couple were forced to ‘sell’ their newborn baby to a hospital because they could not afford their medical bills, it is claimed.

The rickshaw driver and his wife did not have the money, so the hospital ‘bought’ the child for 100,000 rupees (£1,000) to settle the bill.

Hospital manager Seema Gupta says the child was ‘given up’ for adoption rather than ‘sold’, claiming that the parents signed paperwork agreeing to the move.

When the hospital demanded the money, the family could not afford to pay and the baby was taken away,but Babita, 36, wants her newborn son back.

Although the hospital claims that paperwork was completed, Mr Charan says the couple cannot read or write and that any documents were signed with thumb prints.

India’s government has previously warned of a ‘baby trafficking’ trade which reduces the number of children available for legitimate adoption.

District magistrate Prahbu N Singh said the alleged ‘sale’ would be investigated and ‘suitable action’ taken.

Some babies who are taken into the hospital’s care will later be ‘sold’ to couples looking to adopt a child, it is believed.

Families have faced long waits to adopt a child, with willing parents outnumbering available children by as much as seven to one.

Separately, India’s Rajasthan this month launched a new drive to stop older children being trafficked across its borders for child labour.

The state is known for its handicraft industry and authorities are concerned about a rise in child labour as coronavirus restrictions are eased.