THE lack of space to accommodate patients at public hospitals is forcing some ordinary Fijians to spend thousands of dollars on private healthcare.
For 82-year-old Ram Sewak, the search for urgent medical care for his late wife ended in private hospital bills, the purchase of an oxygen cylinder, and the loss of his wife of 55 years.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Sewak claimed repeated difficulties in accessing a hospital bed at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and Valelevu Health Centre forced his family to seek private treatment at Oceania Hospital.
He said the family spent close to $6000 during his wife’s final illness, including private hospital costs and the purchase of an oxygen cylinder.
“My wife was having breathing problems, and we took her to CWMH through emergency,” Mr Sewak said.
Mr Sewak said his wife was admitted at CWMH, but the family later became concerned about the quality of care and the uncertainty around her diagnosis.
“We were told she had lung cancer, but later they withdrew that and apologised, saying the diagnosis was wrong.
“Because of that, we took her to Oceania Hospital and waited for about two-and-a-half hours for a consultant while still paying for the bed and oxygen.
“When the consultant finally came, he only told us to take her back to CWMH the next morning.”
Mr Sewak said the family returned to CWMH the next day, but there was no bed available.
And to accommodate her, Mr Sewak claims, the hospital put his wife on wheelchair.
“I had no choice but to discharge her and take her home.”
He said the family tried again the following day, but was again unable to secure a bed.
Mr Sewak said his wife was later admitted at Oceania Hospital.
“But after they put her on oxygen, she closed her eyes and never opened them again.
“At about five to six on Monday morning, the nurse told me she had stopped breathing.”
Mr Sewak said the experience showed the difficulties ordinary families faced when public hospital beds were unavailable and private healthcare became the only option.
He called on the Minister for health to urgently look into the issue.
