Helping those in need: AIIMS 'adopt a patient' scheme is pretty great

Dr Deepak Agrawal, a neurosurgeon at AIIMS, told Catch that of the 2 lakh patients admitted every year, around 30%-40% are so poor that they simply cannot pay for any equipment for their loved one's daily medical needs.

But under the new scheme, donors will be able to visit the AIIMS website to directly select which patient they wish to donate to so that they may get medical treatment.

On the website, they'll be able to find all information regarding the monthly and overall expenses of each patient. All transactions will be done online and the donor, if he or she wishes to, can also get in touch with the patient or the patient's kin.

Cutting the red tape

While many, including some patients, have a problem with the save-a-pet type ring to the scheme, the scheme does benefit the patient as it helps him attain the money needed without having to go through a lengthy bureaucratic process.

The idea came up after the hospital received many emails and calls from donors asking for verification details of the patients they were donating to, and enquiring about the process of donation. "Many NGOs fool donors into donating for specific patients and due to a lack of transparency, a good number decide to stop donating altogether. This scheme should encourage many donors because it allows for direct payment for treatment costs," says Dr Agrawal.

AIIMS provides financial assistance to the poor through various relief funds, both government and private trusts. Funds from the Health Ministry as well as those from President, Prime Minister and Chief Minister funds all contribute to patient relief apart from other grants.

But adding to it all, AIIMS, as per government data, over a period of five years (2009-10 to 2013-14) was is able to provide financial assistance to only 7,007 patients in need of financial assistance.

There is also an issue of time, as patients might have to wait for 3-4 months or more before funds are allocated for their treatment. In such a case, encouraging public donations for patients who are unable to bear the cost of treatment or equipment for rehabilitation is a brilliant idea.

There have been several occasions when the courts reprimanded the institute for denying treatment to the poor on financial grounds, particularly those suffering from rare diseases.

Ashok Aggarwal, a lawyer from Delhi who takes up 4-5 pro bono cases a week of patients alleging denial of treatment at government-run hospitals, believes this new scheme could be the life jacket many need.

Focus point

Patients who suffer from paralysis due to an injury in the brain or spinal chord are the main focus for the AIIMS scheme as it is a serious disability and requires constant rehabilitation and care that is usually accompanied by exorbitantly priced equipment and drugs.

Catch had previously reported about how many patients have been admitted at the Trauma Centre at AIIMS for months and in some cases even a year because of constant ventilator support but without requiring any active treatment. A dozen such patients are still admitted in the institute.

According to doctors, if such paralysed patients are provided enough aid to buy a portable ventilator, they won't need to be admitted in the institute and the empty beds can make way for others in need for dire and urgent treatment. The donations can also help them get rehabilitated in homes run by NGOs.

So far, around 5 patients have benefitted from the programme since it's inception a month back. But the scheme does hold promise and will exists hand in hand with more transparency, accountability and expediency.

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