#Thread
Amphotericin B and Mucormycosis bring up uncomfortable memory.
Memory of a family that was ruined because of cost of treatment
Jan1996.
I started my first house job in Nashik after finishing internship.
Amphotericin B and Mucormycosis bring up uncomfortable memory.
Memory of a family that was ruined because of cost of treatment
Jan1996.
I started my first house job in Nashik after finishing internship.
My very first patient was a middle aged man on ICU bed no 1.
He was operated for removal of mucormycosis balls from his maxillary sinus. He lost one eye to that fungus.
He was operated for removal of mucormycosis balls from his maxillary sinus. He lost one eye to that fungus.
Uncontrolled diabetes caused by misconceptions about illness, insulin and faith in "alternative" ultimately led to this fungal infection.
I met him 4 days after operation.
Amphotericin B was not avaialble in Nashik then. It has to be brought from Mumbai.
I met him 4 days after operation.
Amphotericin B was not avaialble in Nashik then. It has to be brought from Mumbai.
It was a terribly expensive medicine. Single dose cost more than my monthly salary as a junior doctor.
This gentleman was a businessman. He ran a successful business with his brothers.
This gentleman was a businessman. He ran a successful business with his brothers.
Even after losing an eye, he was confident of going back to his life. I felt very powerful as a doctor back then.
This mighty fungus would be defeated by modern medicine. Patient would live a normal life. What more can a young doctor want!
This mighty fungus would be defeated by modern medicine. Patient would live a normal life. What more can a young doctor want!
He was shifted out of ICU the very next day.
He chose a super delux room (daily room charges = my monthly salary).
And then things started going wrong.
He chose a super delux room (daily room charges = my monthly salary).
And then things started going wrong.
One by one his organ systems started failing. Years of untreated diabetes started claiming his organs.
Treatment was complicated and super-expensive.
Over next three months of my job, I saw him shifting from super-deluxe room to single room to semi-private to general ward.
Treatment was complicated and super-expensive.
Over next three months of my job, I saw him shifting from super-deluxe room to single room to semi-private to general ward.
He ran out of money. Brothers paid off his share of business. And he was cut off.
His wife and son would sit with him. Very quiet. Praying all the time.
His wife and son would sit with him. Very quiet. Praying all the time.
When I left the job, he was on one of the charity beds in the hospital.
All doctors had stopped charging him. Hospital waved off all charges. All he had to do was buy his own medicines.
His community stepped in to help him purchase medicines.
All doctors had stopped charging him. Hospital waved off all charges. All he had to do was buy his own medicines.
His community stepped in to help him purchase medicines.
His years of charity as a rich businessman was paying for his treatment now. But his source of earning was gone.
I remember his face to this day. That sad look and deep eyes convinced me forever that Universal Healthcare paid by taxes is really the only humane healthcare.
I remember his face to this day. That sad look and deep eyes convinced me forever that Universal Healthcare paid by taxes is really the only humane healthcare.
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