Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Jan 21: A poor patient protested alone for non-availability of medicine at ESI (Employee's State Insurance) Hospital at Kadri Shivabhag here on Friday, January 20.

Yuvaraj Ballal from Moodbidri is the person who protested.

As per information available, Yuvaraj had severe cough and fever and later it was diagnosed that he was suffering from lung cancer. He went to ESI medical shop at Kulshekar for prescribed medicine in October 2016. He was told that the medicine was not in stock. They promised him that the medicine would be brought soon.

But the medicine was not available at all at anytime from then. Yuvaraj was tired of approaching the medical shop and started buying the medicine from private shops. “We have 6 people at home. Only my son works in a private company and his income is not sufficient to look after the family. In this situation, I just cannot buy the prescribed medicine from private shops as it is expensive. I have been waiting for very long to get the medicine. I did not have any other option than sitting here to protest.” Yuvaraj said.

Labour leaders Sudattha Jain, Harish Shetty and E K Hussein supported Yuvaraj Ballal.

Dr Ashok Kumar Naik, the chief medical officer from ESI Hospital, promised Yuvaraj that the medicine will be brought within 3 days and given to him. After that Yuvaraj withdrew his protest.