The agonising wait for monetary assistance for 21-year-old blood cancer patient Alka Tiwari has forced family members to contemplate over returning her to Kanpur from Christian Medical College hospital here if they do not receive financial help as promised by the Centre.
Diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia in 2002, Alka's condition has worsened since then due to delay in treatment. "I have been suffering unbearable pain day in and out for more than 10 years. I came to CMC here with a lot of hope to put an end to this pain and suffering," Alka told the media.
She was shifted from a hospital in Lucknow to AIIMS on October 5 but discharged after a 21-day stay due to lack of facilities there and then referred to CMC. Alka was assured of financial assistance from the Health Ministry after she filed a euthanasia plea in court, but is yet to receive the money for her bone marrow transplant at the CMC Hospital.
Alka, her elder brother Brajesh Tiwari and mother Suraj Mukhi, her donor for the transplant, arrived here on October 31 "The health ministry sent a demand draft for Rs 20 lakh to AIIMS hospital for my sister’s treatment. But the DD was sent back to the ministry after my sister was discharged. Ministry officials asked me to send a letter with medical reports given by CMC and I sent it on November 3," said Brajesh.
With little money to continue their stay here, Brajesh said they are now staying in a lodge to reduce expenses. "We are left with few thousands of Rupees which will keep us here till this month end. If we do not get financial aid, we will return to Kanpur," he said.