Some time ago, I personally experienced a patient being denied access to urgent medical treatment because no deposit was made. While some run around and survive the harsh reality of pay before treatment , some lose their lives in the process, it's unfortunate .
Growing up, some families are scared of experiencing illness that could take them to the hospital because of lack of money. The sound of illness is pain and sorrow because it's either they get the needed funds by all means or risk the life of their loved ones. It's a sad reality most people battle with silently.
In the medical field, doctors swore an oath to save lives, but in many cases, the reverse is the case in health care facilities. Bills are first made to be paid before giving patients an attention. The other day, my friend's husband was in a coma and needed to be on life support urgently, but the doctor insisted that a deposit of 2 million naira must be made before they can touch him. The wife didn't know the husband's mobile bank PIN to transfer the money; she was helpless, but the doctor didn't care even when the husband was bleeding; all they wanted to have was the money first.
My friend cried and pleaded with the hospital, all to no avail. She started calling friends to help save the life of her husband, and fortunately, two people responded to her almost immediately, and they transferred the money directly to the hospital bank account , and that was when treatment commenced. What if those friends had no such huge amount of money? Life will be lost? All because of money, which can still be paid later?
It's sad that even in critical condition, money is the top priority, not how to save lives. When the husband recovered, he was able to pay back those friends that saved his life and I imagined losing that man if money wasn't provided , yet we have a government and doctors capable of saving precious lives , it's sad.
No doubt, hospitals are never running charity work, salaries are being paid, equipment and medications are also expensive, but to the detriment of life? There should be balance to this situation if you ask me. This is because we are talking about life here not material things, somehow raising the money before the patients get discharged is not negotiable.
Maybe it's high time the government should stand and take up their role. Let there be a provision where patients are treated first before talking about money, and also let the government subsidize treatments for patients. It's high time to prioritize human lives,if other countries can do so, why not in Africa countries ?
Hospitals can also think of adopting flexible payments inorder to assist anyone who has no access to immediate fund prior to receiving treatment , with this, some careless deaths can be avoided.
Overall, money is vital, but lives remain priceless.
This post is in response to the #Hive Learners prompt on the topic titled, IN FOR THE MONEY.
