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Day 1
It all started with Dr. Revathi’s call to Dr. Sinha on 12th August, around 1 pm. She said an Anveshi activist Vijaya working on farmers’ suicides has been trying to get treatment for a young boy Ravi Babu belonging to a farming family in a village near Medak town. The boy, 13 years old, had been affected by tumor on the spinal cord and paralysis of both lower limbs. The parents had tried to get him covered under Aarogyasri since 2007. The doctors at the Gopala super specialty hospital had been saying that the family would have to spend an additional Rs. 80,000 to get the surgery done. The patient’s family was told that while the expense for removal of the tumour was covered under Aarogyasri, the artificial implant in his spine and the follow up treatment was not, and therefore extra money had to be paid. The parents did not understand. In 2012, Vijaya, an activist helped the parents get their son treated. She approached her friend Dr. Revathi, who asked Dr. Sinha, a doctor with some knowledge of Aarogyasri, whether he could help in the matter.
Day 4
From: Dr. Sinha
Thu, Aug 16, 5:17 PM
To: Dr. Narayana
Sent details of patient Ravi Babu.
Day 7
19 Aug: Dr. Narayana spoke with the Aarogyasri person at the hospital, and suggested Vijaya follow-up with Dr. Satyam, a doctor at Gopala hospital.
Day 9
From: Vijaya
Tue, Aug 21, 1:32 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Dear Dr. Sinha, I spoke to Dr. Satyam, he processed the papers and due to heavy rush patient’s admission will be on Saturday 25th Aug- thank you very much, I will call you again after they admit-Vijaya.
From: Dr. Sinha
Tue, Aug 21, 1:37 PM
To: Vijaya
Good to know that the treatment can be initiated. In case there is any delay in admission let me know. Also keep me informed about progress. Dr. Narayana (Aarogyasri) said that the hospital will be admitting the child this week.
Day 13
25th August- Vijaya got a call from the hospital at 1:30 PM to report by 3:30 PM for admission. The child’s family was in Medak. Vijaya pleaded in vain that the time was too short to make the arrangements and to come from a remote village. They said, “If you do not report by 5 PM we will not be able to help in admission”. The parents spent Rs 1500 on a taxi and brought the boy to the city. Vijaya and the boy reported by 5:30-5:45 PM and the hospital sent them back saying that the beds are full again.
Day 17
From: Vijaya
Wed, Aug 29, 1:19 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Dear Dr. Sinha, can u pl help us to get the admission in Gopala Hospital, he is unable to get admission, I’m continuously following it up, but they said not possible immediately in children’s ward-Vijaya
According to Vijaya, the hospital kept insisting that the boy should be admitted in the children’s ward, but was ultimately admitted in the general ward.
From: Dr. Sinha
Wed, Aug 29, 1:21 PM
To: Vijaya
I will try
From: Vijaya
Wed, Aug 29, 1:21 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Thank you
Day 22
From: Vijaya
Mon, Sep 03, 4:17 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Dear Dr. Sinha, still this boy Ravi Babu didn’t get admission at the hospital. Could you please talk to Aarogyasri people there-Vijaya
From Dr. Sinha
Mon, Sep 03, 4:43 PM
To Dr. Naryanan
Sir, thanks for facilitating approval of this boy. But he has not been able to get admission at Gopala hospital for last 10 days. Can you kindly help? The details of the child are as below. Sent details of Ravi Babu
Day 25
From: Vijaya
Thu, Sep 06, 9:18 AM
To: Dr Sinha
Hello Dr. Sinha, I met the concerned doctor that day, he said he will instruct the staff regarding admission, but concern staff r in leave, others not responding, at present I’m out of station, will be back on Sunday-Vijaya
Day 32
From: Vijaya
Thu, Sep 13, 5:34 PM
To: Dr Sinha
Pl give me the executive officer Dr. Narayana’s number. The boy has reached now-Vijaya.
At about 9 PM, Dr. Sinha called Dr. Narayana again and he said to pass on the details of the child Ravi Babu and he will talk with Medical Superintendent of the hospital for Ravi Babu’s admission.Dr. Sinha tried calling Dr. Narayana but he was in a meeting and hence did not pick his phone. When Dr. Sinha tried again at 7 PM, Dr. Narayana was busy and assured that he would call Dr. Sinha once he was free.
Dr. Narayana called Dr. Sinha back at 9.30 PM saying that he spoke with the medical superintendent of the hospital, and the superintendent said he would try, but since senior staff had left the hospital, it would be difficult to get admission at night. They will definitely admit Ravi Babu in the morning only if the family could stay some place at night.
From: Dr Sinha
Thu, Sep 13, 9:15 PM
To: Dr. Narayana
Details of Ravi Babu sent
From: Dr Sinha
Thu, Sep 13, 9:18 PM
To: Dr. Narayana
Sent details of Ravi Babu again since previous message didn’t reach.
By this time, after discussion with Sinha, Vijaya had made arrangements to take care of the patient’s family overnight, since admission seemed impossible. Suddenly, at 9:45 pm they gave the boy a room.
From Vijaya
Thu, Sep 13, 9:48 PM
To Dr. Sinha
Now they have given a bed in Aarogaysri ward
From Dr. Sinha
Thu, Sep 13, 10:28 PM
To Vijaya
Good to know
Day 34
From Vijaya
Fri, Sep 14, 4:00 PM
To Dr. Sinha
Doctors examined patient. Said things will be done.
From Vijaya
Sat, Sep 15, 10:45 AM
To Dr. Sinha
Patient blood taken for tests. Awaiting results.
From Vijaya
Sat, Sep 15, 4:15 PM
To Dr. Sinha
Patient blood results OK. Awaiting Aarogyasri clearance. Can you give me Aarogyasri official name?
Day 36
From Dr. Sinha
Mon, Sep 17, 2:12 PM
To Vijaya
Dr. Narayana is the executive officer Aarogyasri
Mon, Sep 17, 2:13 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Thank You
From: Vijaya
Tue, Sep 18, 4:00 PM
Thu, Sep 20, 3:11 PM
Day 39
From: Vijaya
Wed, Oct 03, 2:24 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Day 52
From: Vijaya
Wed, Oct 03, 2:24 PM
To: Dr. Sinha
Hello Dr. Sinha and Dr. Revathi, I would like to share Aarogyasri implementation at this hospital with you soon. The attitude towards these patients is careless and they are not given proper guidance about rest, food, physiotherapy, follow ups after surgery. -Vijaya
The reason for Vijaya’s annoyance was explained by her as follows:
The boy was discharged 3 days after surgery. The parents were told to bring the boy back in ten days so that the stitches could be removed. They came back to the city one evening after 10 days and Vijaya helped them stay in the city at the Nature Cure Hospital through some contacts. They then went the next morning to Gopala hospital. The nurses removed the stitches, and were made to wait till the evening to meet a junior doctor. The advice regarding follow up, physiotherapy, etc. was not properly given. Vijaya says that the surgeon, and the senior doctor who met him were warm and courteous on the day of the surgery when they met the patient. At other times they were simply not available. On the other hand, the receptionist, the ward boys and the junior staff were rude and callous with respect to this patient. They did not see him as a paying patient saying that the government had paid for him. Vijaya feels that this kind of training should be given to the hospital staff and patients about the system.
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