Patiala, May 23 -- Doctors at Government Rajindra Hospital on Friday have successfully saved the life of a one-day-old baby girl born with a rare congenital defect that had left a major portion of her food pipe (oesophagus) undeveloped, making her unable to swallow milk or even saliva.

Punjab health minister Balbir Singh said the condition posed a severe risk of chest infection and was life-threatening, making immediate surgery necessary. He added that the entire treatment was provided free of cost under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the minister said the successful surgery reflected the expertise and coordinated efforts of the multi-disciplinary team constituted by the Punjab government to ...