Patients draw attention of Governor

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 31: Urging the Government to ensure uninterrupted dialysis treatment in hospitals, patients in large number took out a protest march to Raj Bhavan to seek the attention of the Governor today.
The protest march was triggered by an earlier decision of healthcare providers in the State to pause dialysis treatment under PMJAY/CMHT from November 6. The healthcare providers had cited Government failure to reimburse/pay pending bills under the health schemes as the reason for their decision to suspend the service.
The dialysis patients' protest rally, under the banner of the All Manipur Dialysis Patients' Association (AMDPA), was however stopped by the police before reaching the Raj Bhavan.
Many patients, including ones on wheelchairs, took part in the march from Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall towards Raj Bhavan.
Even as the patients carried out the protest rally, the Association of Healthcare Providers-India (AHPI) Manipur Chapter in a letter to the AMDPA late today intimated that dialysis treatment under PMJAY/CMHT will continue uninterrupted.
In the letter, the AHPI Manipur Chapter stated that its members held a meeting on October 25 and it decided to continue dialysis services under PMJAY/CMHT uninterrupted.
This decision was taken following an assurance given by the Commissioner, Health on October 24, the AHPI Manipur Chapter said.
"Patients will keep receiving benefits as per existing PMJAY/CMHT norms. We understand the plight of the patients and assure you that we remain committed to serving them, even while shouldering the financial burden," the AHPI Manipur Chapter said in its letter to the AMDPA.
Meanwhile, during the protest march today, AMDPA executive member Chongtham Lakshman said the dialysis patients came together to take out the protest rally demanding uninterrupted treatment under the PMJAY and CMHT schemes.
In September, the AHPI Manipur Chapter had announced that private hospitals would stop dialysis treatment of patients under the PMJAY and CMHT schemes from November 6. If this comes into effect, it would paralyse dialysis treatment and put in risk the lives of hundreds of patients, Lakshman said.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) and Chief Minister's Hakshelgi Tengbang (CHMT) schemes cover dialysis services of patients.
In case treatment under the schemes is suspended or stopped, Lakshman said it would incur huge costs of treatment on the patients. This will mostly affect patients belonging to poor families, he added.
A single session of dialysis costs a patient at least Rs 5000. In a month, it will cost a patient at around Rs 60,000. Those who can't afford this will be forced to avoid the life-saving treatment, Lakshman said.
He also expressed dissatisfaction that despite appeals, the Governor has not given the dialysis patients an appointment.
Lakshman urged the Governor to look into the plight of the dialysis patients and take up necessary actions to ensure uninterrupted treatment under PMJAY and CMHT schemes.