Maharashtra: Drought-hit Latur residents postpone surgeries to buy water

Latur residents, who are reeling under the drought in Maharashtra, are reportedly postponing their surgeries in order to save money to buy water.

The Indian Express chronicles an incident where GR Pardeshi, a 50-year-old man, chose to forgo an operation - which would have cost him Rs 60,000 at a private hospital in Latur - so as to buy water for his family.

The Indian Express quoted Pardeshi as saying, "I finally decided to postpone the surgery as the doctors at the private hospital told me that there was no emergency and the ailment could be managed with medication. Who wants to lose money in today's worsening situation? I will better use it to buy  barrels of water for my family."

The report further illustrates the critical situation of Latur as patients are either resorting to postponing their surgeries or are running to government hospitals, choosing to go to private hospitals only in the case of emergencies. The percentage of surgeries conducted in private hospitals have reportedly declined by 30-50 per cent. 

Also Read:These photos show us what it's like to live without water in Latur

Indian Medical Association secretary Dr Kalyani Barmade said, "Patients like Pardeshi are either postponing their surgeries or are rushing to government hospital where they can get the operations done without disturbing their home budget, which has been wrecked by severe water shortage as citizens have been forced to buy water from available sources. Surgeries in private hospitals have come down by 30-50 per cent." 

While the Government Medical College hospital in Latur conducted only 3,081 and 3,021 minor and major surgeries during the first three months of 2014 and 2015, the hospital had 3,854 cases of surgeries in the first three months of 2016. 

Read the complete report here.