PARADIP: Even as the State Government boasts of initiating schemes to provide quality healthcare to the needy people, it’s a different picture altogether at the grassroots. The Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) is a case in point. Sixty-year-old Suresh Mallick, a Dalit of Rasalpur village under Tirtol block is counting his days at the SCB Medical, Cuttack. A heart patient, Suresh is unable to afford Rs 1.60 lakh that is required for his open heart surgery and post-operative treatment which have been suggested by the HoD, cardiothoracic surgery, SCB Medical. Both his sons, in the age group of 18 to 20 years, are working as daily wagers. Their meagre income does not suffice to meet the daily expenses of their five-member family, let alone Suresh’s treatment. Suresh was admitted to SCB Medical on February 16 and the treating doctor had immediately asked him to arrange funds for an open-heart surgery. His elder son Sanjay requested the Superintendent of SCB Medical to sanction funds under OSTF for the surgery on February 22. Superintendent D N Moharana forwarded the application to the HoD of cardiothoracic department, Nabakishore Patnaik, on the same day. The HoD, on his part, recommended for ` 1.60 lakh from the OSTF for the surgery and ancillary treatments and accordingly sent the recommendation for approval to the Superintendent. As per norms, funds beyond ` 1 lakh and up to 2 lakh under OSTF can be released by any government medical college and hospital following approval of the RDC concerned. Meanwhile, Jagatsinghpur Collector Narayan Chandra Jena also requested the SCB Medical Superintendent to facilitate funds for treatment of Suresh through OSTF. However, two months have passed since then, the hospital authorities have not forwarded the funds requirement application to the RDC (central) for approval.On the other hand, the cardiothoracic department has discharged him from the hospital and advised to get admitted after release of the OSTF funds. His wife Sanjulata alleged that officials concerned in the hospital have been demanding bribe for forwarding the application to the RDC. “They have been neglecting my husband’s treatment as we are not able to offer them bribe or promise a cut from the OSTF,” she said. Efforts to contact the SCB Medical Superintendent proved futile.
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