Patient Appeals to District Collector After Being Asked to Travel to Chennai or Madurai for Treatment
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has come under scrutiny after an autorickshaw driver, K. Karthikeyan from Peelamedu, alleged that the hospital refused to perform his long-pending heart valve surgery due to the unavailability of specialist doctors. The patient, who has been on treatment at CMCH for nearly three years, was reportedly advised to approach government hospitals in Chennai or Madurai for the procedure.
Karthikeyan, who supports a family of four and is covered under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), said he cannot afford private treatment. “My condition has worsened to the point where walking has become difficult, but most private hospitals are refusing to accept my case under the CMCHIS,” he told The Hindu. Despite being under regular follow-up care at CMCH, his surgery was repeatedly postponed, culminating in a recent suggestion to seek surgery elsewhere due to a shortage of specialist doctors at the facility.
In response, CMCH Dean A. Nirmala acknowledged that two assistant professor posts in the department responsible for heart valve surgeries have been vacant for over four months. “We have continued providing him medication and regular consultations. I have directed our doctors to assess his current condition and suggest the next best course of action,” she said.
On Monday, Karthikeyan and his wife submitted a petition to the Coimbatore District Collector seeking urgent government intervention and assistance for his surgery. The case has reignited concerns about specialist doctor shortages in government hospitals and gaps in the implementation of the CMCHIS for patients from low-income backgrounds.
