Ningreichon Tungshang
New Delhi | October 26
Seeking medical treatment in corporate hospitals is extremely expensive. By the end of a treatment the bill is just enough to sell off a share of landholding or worse burrow heavily and end up in heavy debt for the rest of the life. The trend is becoming very common. The poor health services in the government hospitals sometimes leave people with no choice. Such is the case of a Naga girl who was compelled to seek treatment in ‘Max Super Specialty Hospital’ because AIIMS was on doctors’ strike. I received a mail about this case. I am told that the report came out in some Nagaland newspaper but so far the government has not reacted to it. The issue here is not just about one Naga girl but about many people who just cannot afford medical care. In such a situation the state government should be the first to intervene.
The hospital refused to operate her unless the pending due, which was mounting, were cleared. What was not right was that her medication was stopped for nearly two weeks when we went to visit her. Her father did not have the required money at hand despite his attempt to sell his land. He pleaded with the doctors and the hospital authority requesting them to operate her and that the money will surely be paid as soon as he gets it but the corporate rules entertain no such cases. Instead the administration head said ‘if you are poor why did you come to such a place’ to which the father could only say ‘some people love money, some people love life’. He was hurt and humiliated. It is difficult to put what all they went through. It just drives ones mad just listening to their story. Interventions at different level helped taking her out from Max Hospital, the place she begins to dread more than her sickness.
Medically it is a 'hopeless' case but she has not given up hope. Every ounce left in her is defying and fighting against medical proclamation. While she was kept waiting in the hospital she called her friend to tell her that she is now in Safdarjung hospital and the doctors are still contemplating her case because it was risky to operate on her. She says “they are scared that I will not survive” and she laughs! She is the 25 year old Kevi Angami. While interacting with the case so many thoughts crossed my mind. I battled if I should write and share or just let it be. The louder sense took over so here I am. I write this for Kevi. I write this for all the suffering she has gone through. I write this for all those who helped her and continue to. I write so that if there is a thing or two we may learn. I learnt humanity comes calling in the many forms and this time in the face of Kevi Angami.
Just as there are people like those in Max “super specialty” hospital whose life is all about making money (the antithesis of what they claim “caring for you… caring for life”; the slogan they use that betrays many) there are also people who cares. Many don’t know who Kevi Angami but their conscience that cannot tolerate injustice knows her. They write to Kevi. They write about her to other friends. There is Cansupport (a cancer support organization) who writes to Kevi welcoming her to their care. Kevi is seen in the faces of many; faces whose voices are silenced, faces who have been betrayed by systems they cannot fight against (corporates in this case!) May we never fail when such faces appears.
Never give up on hope because hope never gives up. Health is about a little bit of everything and that includes faith. Kevi has not given up hope so why the hell should I? Life is just a breath away….
