After 10 long days, COVID suspect in Bengaluru hunts down hospital that can treat him

On July 17, 60-year-old Ramamurthy, a retired railways employee living in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, was worried to see his younger son down with fever. Every father will only hope that it’s common flu and so did he. His wife prepared a herbal concoction believed to be an immunity booster. However, her fears worsened as her son never got better even after two days of complete rest.

Thus, began their journey, which didn’t see a final destination for 10 long days. “Nobody is willing to pay attention. We are neither very well to do nor do we have the strength to tag along with our 20-year-old son from one hospital to another,” said Ramamurthy.

They first rushed to a hospital in Hebbal, which denied them admission immediately and referred them to Raghavendra Clinic. They were later directed to Prerna Lab to get an X-ray done. “The lab authorities messed it up. They did a CT scan instead and we wasted money,” the father said.

 The older son of the family runs a mobile recharge shop while the younger one works in a steel company earning Rs 20,000 a month. Desperate to get his son treated, Ramamurthy rushed to MS Ramaiah Hospital, but was crestfallen when he was met with the same response as earlier. “They said there is no place for suspects. Once a person gets himself tested elsewhere and is found positive is when they would provide admission,” said Ramamurthy adding that a doctor’s recommendation helps when it comes to private hospitals.

They landed at the doorstep of retired director of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases Sashidhar Buggi, who tried to help them through Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). However, there was no luck. “I was helpless. He isn’t the first patient seeking help. More often than not, those who need help are denied admission,” said Buggi.

Any patient displaying symptoms must call 108, get to any hospital with an isolation ward, said BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad. “The hospital authorities must isolate him first. If symptoms continue, the test will be done. And later, the treatment will be continued. Rapid antigen test could be done immediately,” he added.

“Healthcare is now pure business. Unless I have a confirmed bed in a given hospital, the ambulance will not ferry the patient, no matter what,” said Ramamurthy.

“They charged Rs 4000 for a COVID test for my wife. We finally got our son admitted, after 10 days, to Ashwini Hospital. The test sample has been collected today. We are awaiting his COVID report, which is due by July 29. He is, however, receiving treatment,” Ramamurthy said, heaving a sigh of relief.

The relief is again short-lived. According to the family, the hospital charges Rs 23000 per day for the bed. Rs 12,000 on an average for medicines. How are they going to manage? “We will move heaven and earth for our son,” the family said.

Even if their son gets better and is discharged, their worries don’t end. “We will be branded as COVID positive untouchables in the neighbourhood once the test turns positive on Wednesday. BBMP will seal the place down and commence its drama. Media channels will showcase us on TV, and we will become infamous. The trauma is here to stay,” said Ramamurthy.

How can we help when coronavirus seems to be killing humanity too along with several lives? "If we have a robust software that can work as a central monitoring system involving both government and private hospitals with list of patients registered using Aadhaar, they can work in tandem to solve these problems," said Buggi. Is the Karnataka government taking note?