Thalolam, a state government venture implemented to provide free treatment to children affected with chronic diseases such as haemophilia, cerebral palsy, among others, is turning out to be a costly affair for the scheme’s supposed beneficiaries, thanks to the apathy of hospital officials.
Complaints are rife that many, who are entitled to the free service under the scheme, are denied full benefits by the hospital authorities and even forced to pay prohibitive charges for lab tests and medicines.
At present, Thalolam has 6,409 children registered under the scheme that envisages free treatment to children suffering from kidney and cardiovascular diseases, cerebral palsy, haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle-cell anaemia, orthopaedic deformities and other neuro- developmental disabilities and congenital anomalies (Endosulphan victims). Nusaiba M K, mother of a thalaseemia patient from Kottayam, said: “My child, Anandu, has been receiving treatment from the Kottayam Medical College. I had enrolled him in the scheme in 2009 and we had received free treatment and medicines through the scheme until 2011. Since then, we have been paying huge amount for the treatment of our kid.” Nusaiba, whose husband is a daily worker, said she has been struggling to meet the treatment expense and had spent nearly `10,000 for various tests and medicine over the last month alone. “It will be a great relief for the family if the government resumed its financial aid for the treatment of my kid,” she added.
“My son is a anaemic patient at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital and is entitled to get free treatment under the scheme. However, hospital authorities asked us to pay `2,000 for various lab tests, medicines and other treatments,” said Habeeba mother of the patient.
L Rajan, Public Relation Officer at Kerala Social Security Mission, told ‘Express,’ “We have not received any such complaints in this regard. Denying free treatment for those who have been registered under scheme is not justifiable and hospital authorities must show their willingness to recommend kids who have turned 18 by taking into account their financial and health condition.”
