In the bustling city of Srinagar, a devastating story of love, loss, and exploitation has unfolded, leaving a family shattered and a community outraged. Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh, a young man with a promising future, succumbed to his ailments at Paras hospital, but his tragic demise was merely the beginning of his family’s nightmare.
Gulzar’s mother-in-law, a woman I have known for three years, met me in tears, her eyes red from crying. She poured out her heart, sharing the unbearable burden her family was carrying. Her son-in-law, Gulzar, was admitted to Paras hospital for heart surgery, a procedure that came with a hefty price tag of Rs 6 lakh. The family, desperate to save their loved one, sold their only room, their home, for Rs 4 lakh and even parted with their copper utensils to arrange the funds.
But their sacrifices were in vain. Despite their efforts, Gulzar’s condition deteriorated, and he passed away, leaving behind a grief-stricken family and two young daughters in their teens. The hospital, however, showed no compassion, demanding the remaining payment before handing over the body to the family. The mother-in-law’s words still echo in my mind: “Raati peth nahaz cheni hawaani, nu chi wanan tamis kya halaat che” (We haven’t seen him since last evening, and we don’t know what his condition is).
This heart-wrenching tale raises grave concerns about the exploitation of patients and their families by private hospitals like Paras. The exorbitant costs of medical treatment have made healthcare a luxury only the affluent can afford. The vulnerable and the poor are left at the mercy of these institutions, forced to mortgage their belongings, sell their assets, and even beg for funds to save their loved ones.
Gulzar’s story is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of our healthcare system. The lack of regulation, the absence of empathy, and the prioritization of profits over people’s lives have become the hallmarks of private hospitals like Paras. The hospital’s relentless pursuit of payment, even in the face of a patient’s demise, is a chilling testament to their mercenary approach.
As I write this article, I am filled with a sense of outrage and sadness. Outrage towards the system that allows such exploitation to flourish and sadness for the family that has lost a loved one and their home. Gulzar’s daughters, now left without a father and a home, are a poignant reminder of the human cost of our failed healthcare system.
The question that haunts me is: how many more families will suffer at the hands of these profit-driven hospitals? How many more lives will be lost due to the unaffordability of healthcare? The answer, unfortunately, is blowing in the wind, as the vulnerable continue to suffer at the mercy of a system that values money over human life.
In conclusion, Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh’s tragic story is a clarion call for change. We must demand accountability from private hospitals like Paras and work towards creating a healthcare system that prioritizes people over profits. The memory of Gulzar and the countless others who have suffered at the hands of these institutions must not be forgotten. We owe it to them to fight for a better tomorrow, where healthcare is a right, not a privilege reserved for the few who can afford it.