Kerala: Liver transplant body urges government for special packages for positive patients

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Liver Foundation of Kerala, a foundation comprising more than 1,600 patients who have undergone liver transplantation in the state, have urged the state government to provide special treatment package for those who are affected with Covid-19.
“This is a challenging time for us. Those who are with imposed low immunity power like us are most vulnerable to Covid-19. Our mortality depends on the follow up treatment and the immunosuppressants we take. In such circumstances, our treatment has to be under the experts who did our surgeries. Unfortunately, all live transplants have been done in private hospitals. Hence, we may to depend them if the outbreak intensifies. Having spent a huge amount for the surgeries and spending a large amount for the follow up treatments, it will be difficult for us to take treatment at private hospitals if we become positive,” said Manoj K R, chairman of the foundation.
Hence, we have asked the government to intervene and to direct private hospitals to make an affordable special package for the liver transplant patients who need Covid—19 treatment, he added. Already two patients have been tested positive one each in Wayanad and Ernakulam.
The foundation has also urged the government to provide the medicines through Karunya pharmacies without any shortage. Many of the Karunya pharmacies have gone short of essential medicines for the liver transplant patients and hence, they are forced to depend on other medical stores, said foundation members.