Dengue burns hole in patients' pockets

Hyderabad: A simple mosquito bite is not only leaving patients in pain but also is burning a hole in the pocket and leaving patients poorer by Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh depending on the hospital they get treatment from.

M Dayanand, whose grandson Nithin Sai, 13-year-old who was admitted for six days in Abhaya Hospital, Vidhya Nagar with dengue, says, "The facilities at the government hospitals are not that swift and satisfactory so we were left with no other option than to go to a private facility for the sake of my grandson we couldn't risk his life.

It cost us around Rs 40,000 including all medicines and tests but now he is fine and out of danger." Dr A Kamlesh, Gen Physician, Yashodha Hospital, says, "The lack of equipment, drugs and staff in government hospitals makes people look towards private hospitals." Ujwal Rao who was admitted for four days at Yashodha Hospital, Secunderabad says, "It cost us around Rs 50,000 inclusive of all medicines and tests."

In some corporate hospitals, people are paying up close to a lakh and even more. A senior doctor said, "Depending on the severity of the problem, one would have to stay for longer duration and the cost goes up."