Bhubaneswar: Very often poor patients approaching government hospitals cannot avail free treatment largely due to the apathy of health officials and also owing to lack of awareness among the attendants regarding the facilities. The recent incident of a Japanese Encephalitis (JE) patient leaving SCB Medical College and Hospital due to unaffordable healthcare cost is a case in point.
Orissa POST in its June 2 edition had highlighted the plight of a couple from Khunta in Mayurbhanj whose son was afflicted with JE. The story headlined ‘Poor couple brings back JE hit son from SCB’ says Dipak Singh, son of Saheb Singh, was brought to SCB for treatment. However, the tribal couple had to bring Dipak back home as the doctors at SCB told them that the child needed better treatment, which the parents thought was unaffordable.
Significantly, this family from Mayurbhanj was unaware of the fact that they are entitled to free treatment for JE. Top health officials also confirm that the patient was eligible for free treatment.
“The patients can approach state-run healthcare facilities and the treatment there for vector-borne diseases is free,” said the Public Health Director, Gyanendra Kumar Tripathy.
In a startling revelation, a doctor working in a government hospital in the state on condition of anonymity said the poor patients are often exploited in government-run hospitals.
“Poor patients approaching government healthcare facilities are often misguided. Despite availability of required medicines, the patients are often asked to buy medicines from outside. So, the Health department authorities should conduct regular inspections and fix the anomalies in the sector,” said a doctor working in a state-run hospital.
“The Health department has already distributed medicines for treatment of vector-borne diseases to all the district medical officers (DMOs) ahead of monsoon,” added Tripathy.
Meanwhile, human rights activists have demanded stern action against those misguiding the poor patients.
“This is a serious violation of right to life. When a patient with vector-borne disease discontinues treatment, it results in spread of the disease only. The doctors have to inform the patients that they are eligible for free treatment. This apart, the authorities should take action against the SCB officials who did not give Dipak’s father proper guidance regarding the treatment,” said National Human Rights Commission, Core Group Member, Manoj Jena.
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