UDUPI: Miscreantsposing as representatives from the health departmentreportedly visited the house of a cancer patient and collected Rs 18,000, with an assurance of providing medicines to relieve pain.
Dr Ravindranath Shanbhogue, president, Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), Udupi, said, miscreants, duped the wife of a 66-year-old illiterate daily wage worker. His 55-year-old wife is suffering from cancer, and all their savings were spent on a surgery conducted at the Wenlock District Hospital, about three years ago. The family is in utter povertyhe said.
Further, he said, last month, when the labourer had gone out for work, and his wife was all alone at home, two strangers came in search of his wife. One person, who identified himself as a doctor from the health department, told the victim, that as per the information received from the primary health centre, her name has been recommended for additional treatment for cancer, along with the treatment that she has already been taking. This treatment consists of three injections, specifically to relieve pain, the strangers told the woman. They claimed that the health department would provide the injections.
However, they said that the medicines were out of stock in the government pharmacy, and that she would have to wait till fresh stocks arrive. He also said that a few ampoules of the medicines will be available in some private pharmacies in Mangaluru, and he could write the prescriptions, arrange to buy those injections, and store them in the PHC’s refrigerator. He shared his number too.
When asked about the cost, she was informed that they do not charge for their services, but that the medicine costs Rs 6,000 per ampoule. He told her not to worry about the money, as the amount would be reimbursed by the health department. The family pooled in their savings, and borrowed some money, and handed it over to them.
Later, they called their family doctor Dr Suma Shashikiran, who tried to reach out to the accused. They initially responded to a phone call, but the conversation ended halfway through. Subsequently, there was no response.
When the couple approached the HRPF, a complaint was lodged at the Hiriyadka police station. Even CEN police have been informed of the case, Shanbhogue said.
Dr Ravindranath Shanbhogue, president, Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), Udupi, said, miscreants, duped the wife of a 66-year-old illiterate daily wage worker. His 55-year-old wife is suffering from cancer, and all their savings were spent on a surgery conducted at the Wenlock District Hospital, about three years ago. The family is in utter povertyhe said.
Further, he said, last month, when the labourer had gone out for work, and his wife was all alone at home, two strangers came in search of his wife. One person, who identified himself as a doctor from the health department, told the victim, that as per the information received from the primary health centre, her name has been recommended for additional treatment for cancer, along with the treatment that she has already been taking. This treatment consists of three injections, specifically to relieve pain, the strangers told the woman. They claimed that the health department would provide the injections.
However, they said that the medicines were out of stock in the government pharmacy, and that she would have to wait till fresh stocks arrive. He also said that a few ampoules of the medicines will be available in some private pharmacies in Mangaluru, and he could write the prescriptions, arrange to buy those injections, and store them in the PHC’s refrigerator. He shared his number too.
When asked about the cost, she was informed that they do not charge for their services, but that the medicine costs Rs 6,000 per ampoule. He told her not to worry about the money, as the amount would be reimbursed by the health department. The family pooled in their savings, and borrowed some money, and handed it over to them.
Later, they called their family doctor Dr Suma Shashikiran, who tried to reach out to the accused. They initially responded to a phone call, but the conversation ended halfway through. Subsequently, there was no response.
When the couple approached the HRPF, a complaint was lodged at the Hiriyadka police station. Even CEN police have been informed of the case, Shanbhogue said.