Lack of essential services, faulty ventilators and unhygienic conditions led to the death of more than 8,200 children at the Safdarjung Hospital in the past five years, an RTI reply from the hospital has revealed. Taking note of a complaint based on the reply, the National Human Rights Commission on Friday issued notices to the secretary, union ministry of health and family welfare, and the medical superintendent of Safdarjung asking them to respond within four weeks.

Medical superintendent of Safdarjung Dr BD Athani, however, said he was yet to receive a copy of the report.

Activist RH Bansal, who had filed the RTI application, told HT, “Of the 18 ventilators assigned for children only five worked. From faulty ventilators to unhygienic conditions to acute shortage of essential services, the hospital authorities ignored everything.” Dubbing it a serious issue of human rights violation, he appealed to the NHRC to intervene.