Gujarat: HIV discrimination in state hosptials

[Guest guest]

HIV-infected still discriminated against in state hospitals

PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2005 09:56:12 PM ]

VADODARA: An 11-year-old boy suffering from fever and severe pain in

his legs was refused treatment at a private hospital in Surat. The

orthopaedic doctor attending on him put a label on the boy's X-ray

report and file mentioning his HIV status.

Another patient, a pregnant woman in labour, was refused treatment by

a private hospital on discovering her HIV status.

Recently, a patient in Gandhidham admitted in a private hospital for

severe diarrhoea had to face the wrath of the doctor, who not only

threw the patient out but also demanded that he deposit Rs 4,000

towards the cost of his bed, which would be destroyed.

Gujarat may have one of the highest number of trained doctors to treat

HIV patients, but that has not reduced the number of medical

discrimination cases, in the state. The Gujarat Network of People

Living with HIV/AIDS claims that they get at least three cases of

doctors refusing treatment to HIV patients every month.

Ironically, Gujarat has 5,000 trained doctors for the 75,000 known HIV

cases in the state, according to the Gujarat State Aids Control

Society (GSACS). In stark contrast, the rest of the country has only

one trained doctor for every 9,010 HIV patients, according to the

American Foundation for AIDS Research.

However, despite their training, many doctors refuse treatment to the

HIV infected.

" Lack of sensitisation among healthcare workers can be as much of a

problem as shortage of doctors. Despite our best efforts to build a

better rapport between doctors and HIV patients, we get at least three

to four cases of medical discrimination every month, " says Umesh

Patel, president of Gujarat Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP).

Says Daksha Patel, general secretary of GNP, " We suspect, there are

many medical discrimination cases. But very few cases are reported for

fear of stigma. Most private doctors refer the cases to the government

doctors. "

Meanwhile, GSACS is planning to train government doctors for the

second time and hopes to rope in private practitioners for its

orientation programme. " We hope to sensitise doctors in both

government and private set-up. The training module will help fill up

gaps between knowledge and practice, " says Dr DM Saxena, additional

director of GSACS.

He called upon the Indian Medical Association to take up initiatives

in training healthcare professionals. " We need to train resident

doctors who are constantly in touch with the patients. But so far, we

have trained only the senior doctors and paramedic staff to handle HIV

cases, " says Dr S B Saxena, medical superintendent of SSG Hospital.

The medical discrimination could be a result of misplaced fear and

ignorance among the healthcare professionals, say experts mooting for

better awareness. " Most private doctors refuse treatment to HIV

patients for fear of exposure to the infection. But so far, only 390

cases of HIV infection through occupational exposure have been

reported worldwide, which is negligible. Moreover, we have a universal

safety protocol — Post Exposure Prophyllaxis (PEP), a triple drug

shield against possible infection of HIV, " adds Saxena.

Self-help groups facilitate better HIV advocacy and formation of

network of people living with HIV/AIDS is a good move in this direction.

" We have formed network of SHGs for better advocacy and to tackle

stigma and discrimination. We have also set up a city-level panel of

doctors, who have volunteered for the cause, " adds Patel, who is

monitoring the network in Surat and Vadodara