‘Hospital turning away dialysis patients’

Patients at a corporate hospital availing dialysis through the State government’s Employees Health Scheme have been told that they cannot continue availing services in May.

Families of patients availing dialysis at Apollo Hospital’s Jubilee Hills hospital told The Hindu that they have been told by hospital staff that dialysis will not be continued in May. The problem had also erupted in March, the relatives claimed.

“We have been told we cannot continue treatment and have been asked to seek dialysis elsewhere. We thought the problem had been resolved but it doesn’t seem to be the case,” a family member said, while raising doubts about EHS payments from the government and continuation of all health services under EHS.

Patient’s relatives say they have been availing dialysis for a long time, resulting in establishment of a comfortable doctor-patient relationship. “Moving to another hospital would subject the patients, many of the elderly, to problems unforeseen and could also make them more vulnerable to infections,” another patient relative rued.

Subramanyam Yadavalli, Apollo Hospitals CEO said the contract with the government was being honoured and patients were not being turned away.

When contacted, K. Manicka Raj, in-charge of the health reimbursement schemes including EHS and Aarogyarsi said he would look into the issue.