LoP seeks probe into patient’s death after daughter’s video

Alleging that the healthcare system has crumbled under the present government, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur today demanded a probe into the death of cancer patient 58-year-old Devraj Sharma, who was getting treatment at cancer hospital, Shimla.

His death kicked up a storm after his daughter alleged that he died due to the non-availability of an injection, which he had been getting with his palliative chemotherapy, under Himcare scheme. “We didn’t get the injection under Himcare card when we came for chemotherapy. We were told to buy it from the market but we could not buy it as it is expensive. And before we could collect the required amount, my father passed away,” she claimed in a video.

Calling the unavailability of the injection and the death of the patient unfortunate, Thakur alleged the entire health system had collapsed under the current government. “During our government, life-saving injections were always available. Now, the situation is very bad. The government has not even fulfilled the promises it made in the Budget,” alleged Thakur.

Meanwhile, a government spokesperson said that the allegations being made regarding Sharma’s death were baseless and politically motivated. The spokesperson said that Sharma was given best possible care at the hospital. “He was cured of his disease, but the cancer returned and he was put on palliative chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The immunotherapy injection was to be given in three phases, but the patient died before the next scheduled date for immunotherapy,” said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that adequate funds had been made available to IGMC under Himcare scheme. “During this financial year, Rs 49.7 crore has been released to IGMC under Himcare. And Rs 1.79 lakh was spent on the free treatment of Sharma in the current financial year,” the spokesperson said.