Probe into denial of treatment to HIV patients

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has instituted an inquiry into the allegations by activists that HIV patients are being denied treatment in the government-run hospitals.
Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek on Monday directed the Joint Director to institute an inquiry into the allegations.
As per the allegations leveled by the Meghalaya State Network for Positive People (MSNP), two women with HIV were recently denied operations at the Shillong Civil Hospital and NEIGRIHMS.
While asserting that nobody should be denied health care facility by any government hospital no matter what diseases they may be carrying, Hek said the department would also inquire if there are such cases of discrimination in the private hospitals as well.
The matter came to light when MSNP general secretary Barry Leslie Kharmalki had alleged that two women, one awaiting a cyst removal while the other needing a gall bladder operation, were denied the care by the doctors in the two hospitals.
One of the patients recently said she was made to shuttle between the Shillong Civil Hospital and NEIGRIHMS as the doctors would in some way or the other avoid giving her the required attention.
According to Kharmalki, there are over 13 such cases of discrimination in the Shillong Civil Hospital.