Two babies with kidney stones receive medical treatment at a military hospital in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 11, 2008. [Xinhua]

China's Health Ministry pledges free health care for all babies sickened after drinking contaminated formula.

Deputy Health Minister, Ma Xiaowei, said all medical agencies should prepare to treat babies for kidney stones as more cases could be uncovered as the investigation continues.

He ordered all public health authorities and medical institutions give priority to the diagnosis of suspect cases and provide treatment.

"Hospitals should try their best to meet rising demands for diagnosis and treatment because the number of parents who take their children for medical check-ups could rise drastically in the future," Ma told health, finance and food safety officials throughout China via teleconference Tuesday.

All infants who had been fed with Sanlu milk powder for between three and six months in the past year and have shown symptoms of kidney stones should be treated with top priority, added Ma.

An estimated 1,253 babies developed kidney stones after drinking the tainted milk powder. Two died as a result.

China's dairy giant, Sanlu Group, which is at the heart of the toxic food scandal, apologized to the public for its contaminated milk powder.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2008)