Kota Teen's Family Cites Years Of Surgery Delays At AIIMS Delhi Over Heart Defect
A 15-year-old girl from Kota has been visiting AIIMS Delhi for 13 years for a congenital heart defect, but her family alleges that despite repeated consultations and scheduled dates, the corrective procedure never took place.
Tanvi was first brought to AIIMS Delhi on October 10, 2012, at the age of two, where medical records documented a ventricular septal defect (VSD). An estimate certificate issued by AIIMS on January 31, 2014, noted her diagnosis as "VSD + pulmonary atresia" and listed the required procedure as "unifocalisation & conduit," estimating the cost at Rs 1.25 lakh along with four blood donors. Four replacement blood donor cards were also placed in the hospital file.
Her father, Mukesh Pariyani, said surgery dates were scheduled for September 2, 2015, and later moved to November 16, 2015, but the operation was never performed. He also alleged that an individual named Sanjeev, described as an implant and drug company representative, took Rs 30,000 from him for implants, though this claim could not be independently verified.
Tanvi's case was followed in the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery department under Dr Sachin Talwar. An AIIMS grievance response in 2016 advised the family to consult Dr Talwar for further evaluation and management. A subsequent assessment in 2018 found that major blood vessels to her lungs were absent, describing her cardiac anatomy as complex.
Dr Talwar stated that Tanvi is not a candidate for surgery because the arteries supplying blood to her lungs are essentially absent. He noted that he had reviewed her CT scans multiple times, discussed the diagnosis with the family, and documented his medical assessment in her records, explaining that the anatomy is not amenable to surgical correction.
Pariyani stated that his daughter has suffered from recurrent fever, cough, and cold over the past 18 months, leading to weakness, weight loss, and an inability to attend school. Unable to afford treatment elsewhere, he submitted a grievance in June 2025 and approached the Prime Minister's Office in February 2026, stating that previous complaints had not resulted in treatment while her health deteriorated. The grievances remained marked as under process.
AIIMS media cell in-charge Professor Rima Dada stated that the matter is a concern and confirmed that it would be examined and resolved.
