Cancer patients feel the heat of Govt apathy
Source: Hueiyen News Service / N Sanajaoba Meetei

Imphal, March 24 2012: Feeling dejected by the alleged indifference of the state government in dealing with cancer patients as compared to with HIV/AIDS patients, the cancer patients in the state have expressed desire to be associated with HIV/AIDS rather than cancer.

Both the diseases are considered deadly and there is no definite medicine for curing them although there are certainly some means and ways to control and prevent the diseases.

Cancer may be curable when detected early, by the medicines are so costly that only the well off families could afford them.

On the contrary, the government machineries and other funding agencies have been doing their best dealing with the health problem of HIV/AIDS even to the extent of providing medicines free of cost to the patients.

In the light of this stark contrast, cancer patients have expressed desire to associate with HIV/AIDS rather than cancer.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao on condition of anonymity, one cancer patient who is presently undergoing treatment in RIMS, informed that during his 15 days treatment he had spent more than Rs 2 lakhs, but received only received two bottles of dextrose free of cost from the side of the hospital authority.

The patient disclosed that another patient lying on the bed next to him has spent Rs 80,000 for a single shot of a medicine.

At this rate, cancer patients would embrace death rather than holding on to their uncertain life, he lamented.

He said that the government should at least provide these costly medicines at subsidised rate, if not free of cost.

Such considerations would take away a heavy load from the heads of the cancer patients who are fighting for their lives.

The family members of deceased cancer patient expressed regret that the RIMS authority never care to give even free bottle of dextrose to the patient as they were unable to show BPL and AAY cards.

Even after the authority concerned gave the approval for providing free dextrose bottles after several rounds of complaints and pleadings to the Medical Director and other doctors, the nurses denied the required dextrose and discharged the patient from the hospital saying he was fine.

But the patient passed away at home, the family members lamented.

The family members observed that being a cancer patient is a curse.

Poor patients have no alternative but to die if he/she suffers from cancer as there is no hope of any government assistance.

Comment