Health ministry assures help to gang-rape victim

The health ministry on Friday assured all possible help to the 23-year-old gang-rape victim for her advanced treatment, including organ transplant.

"The girl is surviving as all her vital organs are functioning normally. A team of doctors has been formed to take care of her health. The only worry is that she does not catch any infection," Director General of Health Services, Jagdish Prasad said.

Once the girl comes out of trauma and does not contract any infection, the government will then explore possibilities of transplant of her intestines, he said.

"Transplant of intestines is not possible in India. But we have heard of such transplants being carried out in England. We will explore such possibilities. But the immediate worry is that she does not catch any infection and comes out of trauma," Prasad said.

The DGHS said a five-member panel of doctors will monitor her health everyday and ensure that she gets the best treatment. The panel will also report to the health ministry.

The girl may be taken off the ventilator on Friday, if her condition continues to remain stable, he said.

Prasad said the health minister is also working out possibilities of providing some monetary help to her parents and will urge the Prime Minister for the same from his relief fund.

Government had yesterday formed a panel of five eminent doctors to be headed by Dr S C Sharma, Head of the Department (HoD) of surgery unit, AIIMS.

The other members of this panel include Dr Anil Aggarwal, HoD (gastro-intestinal surgery) at G B Pant Hospital, Dr Sunil Jain and Dr Ajit  Sinha, both consultant and professor in the surgery department of Safdarjung Hospital and Dr Aruna Batra, HoD (gynaecology) at Safdarjung Hospital.