Man ailing from liver diseases rues ESIC hospital's apathy

A 43-year-old patient suffering from chronic liver disease has accused the authorities at Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Model Hospital of harassing him.

Sunil Kumar, who has cirrhosis with portal hypertension, ascites and portal vein thrombosis, said he was not getting proper treatment at the hospital and the doctor concerned was not referring his case to another hospital where he could be appropriately treated.

Kumar, who has been suffering from liver ailments for the past 18 months, and has since lost his job as a clerk at a private company, said earlier he was taking treatment from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in March, and was advised to undergo liver transplantation in Delhi.

However, he visited ESIC Model Hospital, Ludhiana, for further treatment, as his wife, Jyoti Keshrai, worked at Nahar Industrial unit, and had an ESIC card.

He alleged that after inspecting his reports, the doctor at ESIC Hospital refused to accept the reports of DMCH, which recommended liver transplantation.

The patient, who has severe swelling in the lower abdomen, said after over two months of visiting the hospital repeatedly, he was yet to get the required treatment due to which his condition had worsened, adding that though his wife, brother and father were ready to donate a part of their liver for transplantation, the hospital was not ready to refer him.

Kumar rued, "I feel, I am about to die. My condition is deteriorating but nobody understands my pain. I have lost my job and income of my wife is very low, and therefore, we cannot afford treatment at private hospitals."

Giving further details, he said he visited Christian Medical College and Hospital on May 28, where Dr KC Das said that he was suffering from chronic liver disease, cirrhosis with portal hypertension, ascites and portal vein thrombosis. Dr Das told him that before liver transplantation he needed treatment for portal vein thrombosis.

Kumar further said, "Now, I again requested the authorities at ESIC to refer me to CMCH or other hospital where I could get required treatment and then transplantation, but the hospital is not referring my case. My condition has deteriorated in the past two months, while I have been waiting for treatment."

An official on special duty at ESIC Model Hospital, said the test recommended by CMCH were available here, but asked to contact joint director for further queries.

Joint director refuses comment
On being asked about the allegations levelled by the patient, hospital joint director PK Narula not only refused to comment on the issue, but also misbehaved with this correspondent and started questioning his credentials. He asked the correspondent to leave the hospital premises immediately, and also called the hospital security.