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The management of a Jakarta hospital has denied allegations that staff refused to treat a two-month old baby suffering from hydrocephalus, a potentially deadly condition where excess fluid forms in the brain.

The marketing head at Central Jakarta’s Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Dr Abdullah Antaria, said that the baby boy, whose name is Muhammad Toriq, had received several treatments from the hospital, including special medication that must be taken before undergoing a head scan on February 24.

However, Toriq was not considered to be an urgent patient, therefore staff did not recommend him to be hospitalized, the doctor told Metro TV.

Meanwhile, the hospital’s director Akmal Taher said staff decided not to hospitalize the baby because his condition was stable and he only required minor treatment.

“We will only treat him if within 48 hours he needs to be operated on or if his condition is very weak,” Akmal told detik.com.

He said that rooms for hydrocephalus patients are limited.

“Our beds are always 80 percent full so the priority is for patients who need urgent treatment or immediate action,” he added.

Toriq is the son of Romi Dona and Fitriani from Cilegon, Banten. Toriq and his parents are currently staying in a mosque on Jalan Kimia in the Menteng area. Toriq’s head is swelling rapidly and now has a diameter of 50 cm, they said.

Hi father Romi Dona said the hospital only gave the infant head ointment and that the parents’ request for hospitalization and immediate action were not heeded. The low-income family is covered by public health insurance, or Jamkesmas.