Date:09/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/09/stories/2008030957100200.htm

I am a 72-year-old beneficiary of CGHS. Having lost my wife, I am taking care of my 92-year-old mother with a domestic help. Two weeks ago she had swelling in both the legs. As she is bed ridden I consulted a private doctor. After treating for three days he diagnosed it as Cellulitis and advised hospital admission.

When I approached my CGHS dispensary for recommending hospital admission, they insisted the patient be brought to them either on stretcher or in ambulance and then only they could refer to an approved hospital.

They were not willing to visit home.

It is agonising to the patient to be moved from place to place. Under the circumstances I had to admit her in a private hospital and incur heavy bill. Can Government show some compassion and flexibility in procedures in such emergency cases? Imagine the situation when a patient is struggling with a life threatening attack.

B.V.V.S. Murthi,

S.R. Nagar It is really unfortunate that central pensioners are receiving a ‘shabby’ treatment at the hands of CGHS dispensaries. Earlier CGHS Dispensaries used to refer central pensioners to super speciality hospitals.

Following a dispute over the the rate to be paid, the CGHS has now stopped sending sick pensioners to the super speciality hospitals. They are now asked to go to NIMS Hospital for diagnostic tests and admission.

My mother Baru Kasturi Bai is a central pensioner attached to CGHS dispensary at Dilsukhnagar. This dispensary is located on the first floor of a commercial building next to Venkatadri Theatre. Doctors check up the patients and they are given medicines a day or two after, their record books are noted with the medicines prescribed by the doctor.

Being a cancer patient who underwent breast cancer operation, she is unable to walk and climb the steps and wait for hours, so she stopped visiting this dispensary.

A few good doctors do come down to see the sick patients. But for X-ray or other diagnostic tests and for expert check up the patients are asked to go to NIMS Hospitaland a patient is force to spend about Rs 100 to Rs 200 on autorickshaws.

The Government which at a single stroke wiped out crores of agricultural debts of the farmers, should think of bargaining with private super speciality hospitals for treating the sick central staff and pensioners.

Baru Rajendra Prasad,

Ramakrishnapuram