Mumbai : The survivors of the SRA building fire at Vikhroli have lost everything but the civic Sion Hospital, where they are admitted, still tells them to pay for their medicines. They have been told that their bills would be reimbursed.
“We have been forced to borrow money to buy medicines, injections, tubes and oxygen masks. The medicines are very expensive and we have spent nearly Rs 20,000 till now,” said Asha Gavai, a relative.
Many of the medicines, she says, are not even available in the hospital’s chemist shop and they are compelled to go to private chemists who charge a lot more.
“My husband is a vegetable seller. We are taking loans to foot our bills,” said Asha.
“Though the hospital authorities have promised us that they will pay us back, the main question is how do we manage money for now. I borrowed money from a few people today, but what about tomorrow,” said Asha.
Dr Avinash Supe, Dean of Sion Hospital, said they have told the chemist in the hospital to provide them with every medicine for free. “We had declared them under mass casualty on the first day itself and they are being provided free medicines by BMC. Apart from that we have told them that their money will be reimbursed. We will try to do it as soon as possible,” said Dr Supe.
