Patna,(BiharTimes): Health minister Tej Pratap on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the death of a five-day old infant of Raghopur block of Vaishali district after he was reportedly refused admission in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital.

The new-born baby, son of a Dalit who pulls rickshaw in Delhi for his livelihood, was brought first to Patna Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated. As there was no space in ICU of PMCH authorities there got an ambulance arranged for the baby to be shifted to NMCH. But here the family members were told that there was no space in the ICU and the infant died on Monday.

Family members alleged that the authorities did not allow the patient as the hospital lacked ventilator support.

Incidentally, Raghopur is represented in the Assembly by deputy chief minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav.

Tej Pratap told the media outside the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that he took up the matter with senior officers of the health department and ordered an inquiry into the death of the infant.

A three-member team of the Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) had on Tuesday visited NMCH here to enquire about the incident.

The health minister also said that he has ordered a crackdown on the sale of fake medicines in the state.