Updates on 11th Jun 2017

Several updates in last one week. We tried multiple routes

1. Shared all the reports with our doctors network including neurologists and neurosurgeons

2. All were of the opinion it's a large AVM and needs to be operated.

3. One specific clinical opinion from a renowned neuro-surgeon Dr Paritosh Pandey, who had operated just couple of months earlier another complicated cases of one of our patient - "This patient has a large AVM, which has probably ruptured. It is a very complicated AVM, and needs evaluation with MRI and DSA. This AVM is large for Gamma knife radiosurgery. Ideally, this will require a couple of session of embolization, followed by surgery.”

4. But the husband , currently without job, really cannot afford costly treatment.

5. Based on the above the cost wise feedback was "That (above treatment in 3) is an expensive proposition, as embolization costs money for materials. Upfront surgery is doable, but carries risk of short term deficits. So the treatment costs money, and can not be done free of cost, either with any Private Hospitals, or at Nimhans (though it may be cheaper)"

6. As I personally vouch for Dr Paritosh (knowing the complex case that he did ) in INK, I asked the patient to visit him . He confirmed the findings as above and explained the patients the three options in details, including giving them an idea of cost also.

6A. With discounts etc, the cost at Manipal at Bangalore is estimated at around 1-1.5 lakh + Logistical cost + Approx a months stay in Bangalore

6B. The other option is INK in Kolkata where Dr Paritosh operates once every week . The cost estimate is still not known.

Still if it is a Pvt Hospital, we have to do fundraising within a short period of time, as the Patient's husband has no income.

7. As the NIMHANS cost will be surely lesser, I contacted few NIMHANS doctor who required a reference. Then via a well-wisher and central ministry of JP Nadda's office, got referred to NIMHANS Director - As he was out of office , I kept on calling - I might have called approx 30-40 times. At the end of the day, his PA got frustrated with me and provided me the mobile number of Dr Ganghadhar. A very nice person, who in-fact called me back at around 7 p.m in the evening , as when I called at 6 p.m in the evening, he was still in a meeting.

8. Dr Ganghadhar listened the whole thing carefully and asked me to send all details, so that the Neurosurgery team can take a clinical decision (generally , they prefer to see the Patient at the hospital physically and do the tests etc, but understanding the geographical issue :-) , he agreed to go through the existing report ). He also clarified that in NIMHANS the cost of treatment is mostly free, if the Patient has a BPL card - but otherwise it will be charged to the patient according to a tier based system. Though , he also mentioned that it will be cheaper compared to private hospitals.

9.But in the same breath, he also mentioned that, the patient needs to come to Bangalore and be ready to stay for few weeks, before can get admitted due to a long wait.

While we wait for NIMHANS reply, the next steps are as following, which I have already conveyed to the Patient;s family -

1. The patient's family is eligible for BPL card and they should avail it asap

2. We need to get estimation from INK based on the free bed.- I know, some free bed options should be available in INK (due to governmental aid provided for land) - If any one (current or ex INK doctor - Abhijit Das) or anyone from our volunteers (Papia Roy , Adhirath Dey ) knows how to avail that , please let me know via IM or via email at rsengupta@missionarogya.org