Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Body not claimed for want of money

Staff Reporter

`Hospital not aware of family's problems'

PATHANAMTHITTA: The body of a youth, who succumbed to the injuries suffered in a motorbike accident a month ago, has been lying in the hospital mortuary for the last four days for want of money to clear the bills.

Manojkumar, 24, who hailed from Nedumpram near Thiruvalla, had met with the accident on June 11. He was admitted to the Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital in Thiruvalla where he had undergone advanced medical treatment, including a neurosurgery. He was an inpatient at the hospital for 33 days and he died on July 13. The youth, working with a local stationery store, was the sole support to his mother, Ratnamma. She said she could not take the body home for want of money.

Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas visited the bereaved family on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the local people have taken initiative to mobilise funds to help the family. They contacted Thiruvalla Archbishop Issac Mar Cleemis, who offered a donation of Rs.25,000 to the family.

However, the hospital director (human resources), Fr. Santhosh Azhakathu, said nobody had contacted the hospital in this regard, so far. He said the hospital authorities were under the impression that the body had been kept in the mortuary awaiting the arrival of some close relatives.

Fr. Santhosh said the hospital was ready to give a concession of Rs.10,000 to the family, besides the Rs.25,000 donation offered by the Archbishop.

According to him, the total hospital bill was Rs.1,12,000 of which Rs.27,500 had been paid. He said the hospital authorities were willing to accept part payment of the balance amount of Rs.84,000, on humanitarian grounds.

Fr. Santhosh said he had apprised the mother of the deceased of the high cost of medicines and surgery beforehand. However, she had expressed willingness to make the payment, he pointed out.

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