Parkinson’s patient running from pillar to post for treatment

AIMC/JHL principal says they have no neurology ward or neuro physician

LAHORE

The poverty and population forming a devastating combination is reflected in an ordeal of a young Parkinson’s patient running from pillar to post for treatment besides supporting his huge family of 15 members, including his parents.

While the politicians are spending tax-payers’ money on their treatment abroad, the poor face the brunt of economic hardships by being deprived of their basic right of healthcare guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan. The eldest of the three brothers after nine sisters, this 24-year-old patient is faced with the biggest challenge of his life not only to seek treatment for his disease and support his big family with very little means at hands especially when he is unable to do any job with constant quivering body condition.

Hafiz Muhammad Usman, s/o Faqir Bakhsh, resident of Tehsil Jatoi, District Muzaffargarh, is suffering from Parkinson’s disease that affected his whole body and rendered him useless to perform even simplest of tasks. As five sisters are married, he said, four of his elder sisters still unmarried as the family bears the responsibility to urgently marry them as their ages were growing, adding that four brothers, including himself were also waiting in line to be married on their respective time.

Having been caught by the disease three years ago, Usman wasted almost two-and-a-half years trying to get treatment from quacks and hakeems until he realised to seek specialist treatment in government hospital, which unfortunately also turned out to be a big disappointment as top neurologists and neuro physicians failed to treat his disease that enables him to lead a normal life. “I cannot even sit on a vehicle as I feel immense pain in my backbone,” he said, adding however that the doctors told him that he had neurological disorder that dealt with his brain.

After getting initial treatment under the supervision of Prof Dr Fahad Saleem, Consultant Neurologist, Nishtar Hospital Multan, and Dr Javed Iqbal, Neuro Physician, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, without much difference to his physical condition, he then remained admitted in Mayo Hospital for a month.

After he was discharged without any improvement in his condition, he reached Chief Minister’s Secretariat at Club Road on May 25, 2016 to seek relief at the highest level. As CM’s Secretariat separately moved two letters to Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department to constitute a special medical board and to Medical Superintendent of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, to extend treatment along with operation, tests and medicines to the patient free-of-cost. But, he literally became a rolling stone as CM’s Secretariat also had to issue reminders to Health Department and the department issued reminders to JHL administration (latest being on October 19, 2016) for constitution of the special medical board and extend specialist management to the patient.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Secretariat also wrote to DG Khan Commissioner and Muzaffargarh DCO to investigate his family’s indigence to claim financial assistance for his treatment and marriage of his sisters, which was returned as recommended.

Usman informed that last visit to CM’s House was extremely humiliating as he was sent back. He complained that he was managing his treatment on his own as he was compelled to get his diagnostic tests conducted and buy medicines as the doctors only prescribed these tests and medicines. “The JHL administration has not conducted tests and medicines free-of-cost from hospital,” he regretted, adding that he was unable to bear the cost of his treatment as he can’t even afford his frequent travel from Muzaffargarh to Lahore anymore.

A population expert was of the view that this is a classic example of how bigger families can squeeze resources. Similarly, he said, the burden of huge population takes its toll on resources at hand to the detriment of masses as government cannot fulfill the requirements of a large population with available resources meant for a lesser population. Therefore, he said, it is necessary upon public to keep their families smaller not only to help government but help themselves.

When contacted, AIMC/JHL Principal Prof Dr Mahmood Shaukat expressed ignorance about any such Parkinson’s patient referred by the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, saying there was no Neurology Ward or a Neuro Physician in JHL.

“Why the Department should refer a Parkinson’s patient to Jinnah Hospital,” he wondered, saying that the patient should have been referred either to Lahore General Hospital or Mayo Hospital with neurology facility.

Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, Punjab, Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah was not available for comments.