Injustice in Sree Chitra must end

Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram is one of the best centres in India that gives equal importance to research along with treatment. The biggest feature of this treatment centre is that it provides the best treatment without commercial interests. Therefore, along with the poor, the rich also rely on Sree Chitra for the best treatment. If there are any physical challenges for the poor who have AAY ration cards, they get completely free treatment here. These patients are included in the A category.

At the same time, these patients will also have to pay for the foreign-made equipment used for the surgery. If a patient in this category has an Ayushman Bharat card issued by the Central Government, only its maximum amount of five lakh rupees will be allowed. With this, other freebies that the institute should provide to the patient in Category A will be denied. This approach to squeeze more money from the poor by this institute, which receives about Rs 200 crore as a grant annually to ensure treatment for the poor, is not justifiable. Kerala Kaumudi had published the news written by KS Aravind pointing out this.

The news specifically mentioned that a patient from Idukki had undergone surgery here in January due to Parkinson's disease. The total cost of his treatment was Rs 18 lakh. He was given a discount of five lakh rupees as he had an Ayushman Bharat card. Out of the remaining Rs 13 lakh bill, Rs 10 lakh was the cost of foreign-made equipment. Three lakh rupees was the charge for the hospital room and other tests. While this was free for a Category A patient, this Idukki native was forced to pay three lakh rupees in addition to the Rs 10 lakh on the pretext that he had used the Ayushman Bharat card. Since the family in crisis had taken a loan but could not repay the amount in full, voluntary organisations and locals collected money to settle their bill. This is not the case of just one patient. Although many of them have demanded that the money be returned, the board of directors of Sree Chitra has not taken a favourable decision.

In the past, treatment was provided here to those who had benefits like ESI and CGHS - a scheme for the treatment of retired soldiers. The institute is not considering patients coming under such schemes, citing the delay in getting money from these schemes. This problem can be solved to some extent if those in A category are made to use the Ayushman card only if the institute's benefits are not enough to settle the bills. The decision in this regard should be taken by the governing body, which includes the institute director, MPs, experts, etc. If they take a charitable decision to set aside an amount from the annual grant for this purpose, it will bring relief to many ordinary patients.