Seventeen-year-old Karthik, an endosulfan victim, is suffering from many disorders including stammering and mental illness that cannot be cured.
But his urological problems can be cured with a surgery. Unfortunately, hospitals empanelled by the government for the treatment endosulfan victims, has become a hurdle in the process.
Karthik has already undergone three surgeries, one on neck and two on ureter. The surgeries were performed at the KMC Hospital in Mangalore. But as per a government order that came eight months ago, the only hospital in Mangalore that can treat endosulfan victims is Yenepoya Hospital.
There are 12 hospitals empanelled for treatment of endosulfan victims.
Though medical science says any doctor can treat a patient after studying their case, experts are of the opinion that it is better if you consult the same doctor.
“Dr Laxman Prabhu at KMC Hospital was treating him. If the surgery is done at KMC Hospital, we won’t get financial aid from the government. And I can’t afford the expenses,” said Karthik’s father Jagjeevandas Shetty, a resident of Bellur.
“I managed to meet the expense of the first surgery while for the other two surgeries, I got government aid,” he added.
Earlier, the financial aid was provided to all hospitals in Mangalore.
“As of now, the patient’s family has got only two options -- they can either try to get special permission from the government or forward the bill for reimbursement, which we can approve if the surgery is not too costly,” said Sudheer Babu, who is in charge of the endosulfan cell in the district.
Though Jagjeevandas has submitted an application to the Chief Minister through the Endosulfan Remediation Cell in the district, no action has been taken yet.
Patients who were relying on various hospitals are a worried lot after the empanelment of hospitals for treatment of endosulfan victims.