|
Imphal: As the
economic blockade in Manipur continues for over 70 days now, the
state is raising a helpless wail. Seriously ill patients are being
turned away from hospitals, which are battling a shortage of
life-saving drugs, and many are losing their lives.
"It's a pitiable situation. As a doctor I feel helpless that I
can't help...and have had to turn away many critically ill
patients from my hospital just because there is a scarcity of
life-saving drugs and oxygen because of the blockade," Dr. K.H.
Phalin, managing director of Shija hospital in Manipur, told IANS.
According to Phalin, ever since the blockade began Aug 1, the
price of an oxygen cylinder has gone up by four-five times.
"Manipur does not have a medical gas plant of its own and is
dependent on Assam. Therefore, because of the blockade, the supply
of oxygen is affected. A cylinder that normally costs Rs.320 in
Assam, costs Rs.1,100 here (from local suppliers) and at one time,
went up to Rs.2,400," said Phalin, who is a surgeon and runs the
state's biggest private hospital.
The hospital, like many others, also sends its own vehicle to get
oxygen cylinders and other supplies from Guwahati in Assam, but
has to "pay up to some local groups", who, according to him,
charge up to Rs.5,000 to let their vehicle go.
"In two weeks, we have had to reject at least 10 critically ill
patients because we are running low on life-saving drugs and are
in no position to take their responsibility. Moreover, we cannot
take a risk with our own patients in the ICU and those on
ventilator who require 15 cylinders every day," he added.
"There are cases of people losing their lives for lack of timely
treatment and life-saving drugs," Phalin said.
Mandira Singha's is one such case. The 22-year-old lost her father
to the blockade Sep 12.
"The hospital that my father was admitted in said that they don't
have the necessary supply of the drugs that was required to treat
him. He was critical, we couldn't even think of shifting him to
Guwahati...so I asked a friend, who was coming from Kolkata, to
get the medicine," Singha said.
"But by the time he reached, it was too late and my father was
gone....," she sobbed.
Activist Madhu Chandra had a similar tale. "I lost my friend Sep
6. He died because the hospital he was being treated in ran out of
oxygen."
"Another family I know lost their son when he drowned in the
river. He was working as a helper in a truck and as all the trucks
were stalled on the highway because of the blockade, he had gone
to take a bath in the river...his poor parents had to pay
Rs.15,000 to get his body, when normally it would have cost
Rs.5,000, but the extra charge was because of the high fuel
price," he added.
According to doctors, besides medicines and oxygen, there has been
a shortage of medical equipment as well.
Naba Chandra, a doctor in a private hospital, said: "We need
equipment to conduct angiography and other procedures; we need
equipment for the blood bank but all of that has been lying in the
border for two months now."
"There is also a shortage of IV drip and normal saline," he added.
Whatever can be brought from nearby states, like Nagaland or
Assam, are being arranged by the hospitals at their own cost. But
the impact has been on the medical bills of the patients, which
has shot up.
"Unfortunately, it's the common man of Manipur who is the worst
affected. With hospitals spending more on oxygen, ambulance
service (price of fuel has shot up) and generator during power
cuts (again dependent on fuel), patients have had to bear the
extra cost," Phalin said.
Naba Chandra added: "Left with no choice, a number of people are
going to Guwahati for treatment. I know of people who are even
selling their properties to be able to give proper treatment to
their loved ones outside the state."
The economic blockade called by the Sadar Hills District Demand
Committee (SHDDC) Aug 1 and a counter blockade called later by the
United Naga Council have crippled normal life in Manipur, making
prices of household commodities soar and resulting in acute
scarcities, including of life-saving drugs.
"I hope the centre does something concrete, and urgently, to get
us out of this situation. Otherwise Manipur will continue to bleed
silently," Phalin said.
(Azera Rahman can be
contacted at azera.p@ians.in)
|
Comments
|
Quick links