"If Indian babies can get this drug, we will save many more of them ... the survival rate will go up from the present 50 per cent to as much as as 85 per cent," claims the PGI's Neo-natology Department head, Dr A Narang.

"Surfactant is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and in the USA its use is almost mandatory for all babies immediately after birth, even if they do not exhibit any respiratory condition," says Dr A.Narang. "Doctors there use it to avoid complications. This drug ought to be acknowledged and licensed here but so far nothing has been done."

The drug shows its most fantastic results on premature babies suffering from Respiratory Distress Syndrome - a condition where the lungs of babies fail to expand, leading to acute respiratory problems. "All babies below 34 weeks are prone to this disease since the body's natural chemical is not produced before this time," says Dr Narang.

"Surfactant is a kind of `detergent' which helps the baby's lungs to expand. The lungs of some premature babies collapse and this drug helps them to expand," explains Dr Mahesh Hiranandani of Mamta Nursing Home Sector 18. Dr Hiranandani has been using this drug on premature babies.

In his capacity as the president of National Neo-natalogy Forum, Dr Narang wrote to the Drug Authority of India to license the drug so that it could be made easily available. As many as 80 children have been administered the drug at the PGI till now. It is learnt that when Lt Gen B.K.N. Chhibber's grand-daughter's baby developed respiratory problems Surfactant was procured from abroad on special demand by the UT Drug Authority.

In the present situation, the black marketers are the only ones who benefit from the drug's non-availablity. Priced at 150 pounds (UK) and between $ (US) 150 to 350, the drug is available here sometimes for more than Rs 40,000. However, the rates normally vary between Rs 18,000 and Rs 30,000.

Dr Hiranandani points out: "Since the drug prevents complications and increases chances of survival, the drug actually reduces cost of treatment in difficult cases. Premature babies with respiratory problems get more relief from this drug than any other so it is highly unfortunate that the drug is denied to them. With the help of this miracle drug so many lives can be saved but with the concerned authorities apparently not sparing a thought, countless babies are denied the right to live," he argues.