The State government is willing to fund Mariam Kouser’s treatment. The three-year-old is still undergoing treatment following complications after an operation in Bangalore on December 13, 2013. But the child’s parents have not responded to letters written in this regard by the government, said Minister for Health U.T. Khader.
Talking to presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Khader said the State government released Rs. 2 lakh as compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. “When I heard the family had incurred more expenses, I asked them to accompany me to the Chief Minister. But they failed to turn up.” Mr. Khader said he met the Chief Minister, who agreed to reimburse the amount paid by Mariam’s parents towards her treatment.
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“A letter was sent a month ago from the Chief Minister’s office asking the parents to produce three bills (issued by the private hospital) for reimbursement. But there has been no response from them.” The parents have also not responded to calls made by Health Department officials. “We are ready to provide the assistance they need. But they have to approach the Chief Minister with their problems,” Mr. Khader said.
Mariam, a resident of Doddaballpur, had met with an accident and fractured her left elbow.
She was operated upon at Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic in Bangalore three days later after which she slipped into coma. She is at present undergoing treatment at Dr. Malathi Manipal Hospital in Bangalore.
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Mr. Khader said the government has ordered the termination of service of two doctors and suspension of two other doctors for medical negligence. “We do not have the powers to grant compensation,” he added.