Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Apr 27: It’s a long wait for Chobi Rani Roy, a serious heart patient for her heart surgery at Cochin, Kerala. Nearly two weeks back Chobi Rani Roy had gone to a private hospital at Cochin for her treatment. But after two days of her admission in the hospital, the Medical Authority, asked her to leave as she couldn’t deposit Rs 1.50 lakh in advance.
Later when a letter was sent by the local Member of Parliament, Mr Bishnu Pada Ray, mentioning that Rs 50,000 has been released for Chobi Rani Roy from Prime Minister Relief Fund, the patient was admitted on 24 April 2012.
But according to Mr Ramakrishna the hospital authority hasn’t started her treatment yet as the balance amount has not been deposited yet in the hospital.
“Everyday they tell us that operation will be carried out tomorrow and next day they give me same assurance again. Today I have been again informed that the operation will be performed tomorrow. As we don’t have money, we have been treated like football,” Ramakrishna added.
According to Doctors, Chobi Rani Roy has serious heart problem and she need immediate heart surgery but for her and her husband, who works as farmers in other’s crop land, managing even Rs. 1.50 is an impossible task.
As condition of Chobi Rani Roy was deteriorating every day and there was no point sitting and waiting for her death. Mr. Ramakrishna had taken her to Cochin, expecting some miracle, which sadly didn’t happen.
Now, everyday Ramakrishna meets doctors and staffs of the hospital to know when the operation will be performed but as the money has not been deposited yet he gets only contrasting and confusing replies. Poor Ramakrishna keeps calling his friends and relatives at Port Blair for financial assistance everyday from Cochin but for general public, who are already troubled by inflation, collecting such big amount is difficult.
“Rs. 1.50 Lakh is just initial cost and with this we have to pay Rs. 25,000 extra for medicines and also some more money for room rent. I don’t know from where I will get this amount. As, I don’t have BPL card and people say I can’t get any assistance from Administration. Now I have asked my friends in Paresh Nagar, Nimbudera, to sell my cattle. Every day I purchase medicines worth Rs. 100 and Rs.200 and with those medicines I have kept my wife alive till now. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Mr. Ramakrishna added.
As there is no clear cut policy for treatment of poor people (Who don’t have a BPL Card), they often feel that they have no right to live. Every poor patient with serious deceases and complications first visits government hospitals, where they mostly get half-hearted treatment and in private hospitals, every drops of their blood is sucked in the name of specialised treatment. Those who can pay, survive and those who fails, die a slow painful death.
The question is why patients like Chobi Rani Roy, has to wait for so long for specialised treatment? Why can’t Administration form a clear cut and less complicated policy for the treatment of patients, who are poor (But not BPL)? Why can’t government hospital directly recommend names of poor patients for financial help from LG’s relief Fund and refer them to reputed Mainland Hospitals?
Generous people of Andaman and Nicobar have always come out openly in support of every such patient by donating money and offering all kind of support but expecting financial support from general public again and again will be unwise. It should be the duty of the Administration to come forward for every such patient and ensure that no one dies without treatment. Let’s not forget that poor people are also Human Being and they also have all rights to survive.
Those who wish to help Chobi Rani Roy may contact Mr. Ramkrishna Roy in his mobile number 09474295133 or Andaman Sheekha office at 9932082892.
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