HIV positive patient denied treatment at government hospital

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

 Even after decades of social activism, those who are HIV positive continue to be stigmatised and marginalised by society. A sex worker, who is HIV positive, was denied treatment at the Doddaballapur government hospital two days ago.

The 30-year-old woman had gone to the hospital for back ailment, and not disclosed her medical condition to the authorities. As soon as they came to know, they allegedly refused to provide further treatment.

The nurse allotted to the ward allegedly denied the required medical attention to the patient, and called for her eviction. “The ward was filled with around 12-13 other patients. In front of all of them, the nurse blatantly refused to treat the patient since she is HIV positive. She even warned other patients that they would also contract the virus,” said Teja, a sex worker who has been helping the women get medical attention.

“While the patient should have informed the hospital about her condition, but the hospital cannot turn her away this way. She was told to leave the ward while she could not even walk,” Teja added.

When Teja looked into the medical records of the patient, it was found that she has not been receiving her Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which acts as a deterrent to most of the symptoms of the incurable virus. This was one of the reasons for her deteriorating health.

“There are a lot of aspects of HIV that fall under the shadows. Nobody is open about, not even to seek the required medical help leading to such complications,” Teja said.

 The sex workers staged protests and the authorities had to issue an apology. They assured to treat HIV cases with greater sensitivity the next time around. They have also promised an apology in writing and continued treatment for the patient who was discharged yesterday. She has now also been put on ART medications.