ACTION will be instituted against the district surgeon who refused to treat a six-year-old rape victim because he was "busy".

Jan Vorie did not treat the girl from Inquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday - claiming that police did not follow correct procedure.

The KwaZulu-Natal health department said yesterday it had launched an urgent investigation into the circumstances that led to the girl not receiving a proper medical examination.

Spokesperson for the provincial department of health Chris Maxon, said health officials were deeply saddened by the incident.

Maxon said the department was collecting statements from various people who had accompanied the girl to the doctor.

"We are obtaining statements from the police andparents in order to see what action should be taken for such a callous act."

He said the department would, on the strength of the evidence, institute disciplinary action against the doctor and also report him to the Health Professionals Council of South Africa for dereliction of duty and other transgressions.

But Vorie has dismissed the allegations, saying the police had tried to bypass standard procedure.

MEC for Health Sibongiseni Dhlomo said rape was a traumatic experience, emotionally and physically.

"It is worse when it is a child.

"We are concerned by the high number of children who are raped by relatives in rural areas.

"What makes it worse is that many cases are not reported."