NEW DELHI: For the past four days, Tabassum has been running here and there with her eight-year-old daughter, Sonam, to get her treated. All her day is spent going from one department to the other at Guru Teg Bhahadur Hospital, but the outcome is nil.
Even a week after the Delhi government announced a scheme to provide timely treatment to the patients, things don’t seem to be moving. Arvind Kejriwal had announced that residents will not have to wait long for getting test and surgeries done in government hospitals as they will be able to get them done for free in private ones.
“I don’t know about any such scheme. Moreover, we can’t afford post-treatment expenses. Sonam was complaining of cough and stomach ache for the past few days. When we came here, doctors suggested ultrasound. The test will be done on August 18. I don’t know what will I do till then,” said Tabassum.
Of the six government hospitals visited by The Sunday Standard team, only two have displayed information related to the scheme. There is no clarity among doctors. Some hospitals have started referring patients, but private hospitals are giving dates as long as 40 days for surgeries and tests.
VOX POPULI:
GB Pant hospital
Ranjit Kumar, 19
Heart and ear patient
I was undergoing treatment for blockage in heart valve. Revently, I met with an accident after which I lost the ability to hear from one of my ears. Doctors have suggested me to get MRI and ECHO done. But my tests have been scheduled for August 19. If there is any such scheme, doctors should refer me to a private hospital. It is the hospital authorities’ duty to brief us about the free scheme.
GB Pant hospital
Santoshi Kumari, 63
Heart patient
I was referred to this hospital from Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini, for heart bypass surgery. My surgery is due on August 20. When I went to the registration desk they said you will get a bed only after a patient is discharged. I know about Delhi government’s new scheme, but I have no idea on how should I follow it up. No information about the scheme is available here.
GtB hospital
Vinod Kumar, 30
Infertility
I read about the scheme in a newspaper but I did not find any information in the hospital. Doctors suggested me to get ultrasound done and it will be done after 40 days. I have been running from OPD to other departments. Doctors asked me to fill a form to get referred to a private hospital, and when I reached there the person concerned was out for lunch. The process is taking too long.
Lok Nayak Jai
Prakash hospital
Urmila, 30
Nasal Polyps
Doctors have referred me to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to get the nasal surgery done. I won’t go to a private hospital as my pocket won’t allow me to bear the post-surgery expenses. And there might be complications after surgery. Doctor just told me that I can get it done at the private hospital but didn’t tell me why and how. I don’t know if it is covered under any scheme.