Heart patient ? Take heart

It seems that those with heart problem can now take a deep sigh of relief. More so, if you are not in a position to afford the medical bill that usually comes with the treatment of heart diseases, however, one will still be left to arrange the travel cost up to Prasanthy Niyalaam in Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh in India.

By Yuvraj Acharya

Renu Koirala, a resident of Biratnagar, had lost all hopes for the life of her husband, who was a heart patient. But two months on, she is the happiest person in the country. Her husband has come back with a fresh lease of life from Andhra Pradesh based Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Science.

" My husband has been given a new leash of life. He was slipping into the twilight world of death two months ago, but is hale and hearty now," she said.

In fact, the couple - a devotee of Sai Baba - had gone to Puttaparthy in Andhra Pradesh to attend the Buddha Jayanti celebrations there. Once there, they also took the opportunity to have regular health check up. But lo! the doctors suggested a heart surgery!

Expectedly enough, the couple had no money on them except, of course, the return train fare. But this did not rule out surgery just because the treatment at the hospital in question comes all for free. So much so, they did not have to pay for anything from fruits to food.

It seems that those with heart problem can now take a deep sigh of relief. More so if you are not in a position to afford the hefty medical bill that usually comes with the treatment of heart diseases. However, one will still be left to arrange the travel cost up to Prasanthy Niyalaam in Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh in India.

It is not only the treatment, which comes free of charge. Medical education, too, is imparted all for free. Set up in 1991, thousands of needy patients and students have benefited from the charity.

As Koirala said, "Health services have indeed become costlier. One can say they have become simply unaffordable for those with low income." She is not far away from the truth. In fact, it appears that those with low income will be left high and dry, literally. Conversely, those with enough money could expect to live longer.

Notwithstanding socialist ethos, states have failed ensure quality health services. What is available is a bare minimum. More so in case of Nepal, where the private sector hospitals have started running on commercial lines. This can, of course, be attributed to non-existent level of charity money flowing into the hospitals.

As the things stand, even the basic service is getting more and more beyond the reach of the common man. Some are facing really nightmarish times.

According to a report, some 300 t0 500 out of 100000 children are suffering from non-coronary heart disease and 10 per cent of them die. The report available at the Heart Club , Nepal, 20 per cent of the total patients admitted in the hospitals in Kathmandu valley are heart patients.

The experts claim that more than 30 perc cent of the peoeple sufferirng from this costly disease are obliged to undergo bypass surgery. That incidentally costs Rs. 205 thousand in India. Ditto in Nepal.

But as Koirala found one does not have to arrange any huge amount for the treatment of the sick heart. As if free treatment was not enough, the hospital in question also arranges return train fare.

In fact, Sai Baba hospital is perhaps the only hospital which bears all medical expenses, including food for the patients as long as one is in the hospital. Not only that, the hospital also foots the food bill of at least one person who accompanies the patient.

Specialty health service, without having to pay a single penny, is strange to hear by all means. But it is true and is happening even as you are reading this. Moreover, it is the reputed doctors from India and aboard who are rendering services to the hospital for free.

Service cuts across faith and religious barriers. No one is questioned about caste, religion or nationality. Computer fixes the appointment and no exception is made. The appointment is, however, fixed on the basis of the health of the patient in question.

Although there is no obligation on anyone, visitors to the hospitals have come back as devotees of Sai Baba. Some 1700 volunteers from various Indian states serve the Ashram and the Hospital on a 15 days turn by turn and arrange blood other requirements for the patfients.

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