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| Sunday, 26 October 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Cancer hospital: donations going ? by Shanika Sriyananda Donating funds to a worthy cause is a worthy act. And nothing could be more 'worthy' than doing your altruistic bit for cancer patients. Tales about shortage of drugs at the Maharagama Cancer hospital (MCH), and the pathetic plight of helpless patients, forced to obtain treatment in conditions that are cramped, crowded and often squalid evoke a sympathetic response, upping the donation quation. But how often do donors follow up on their donations to find out whether the funds, medicine or even the food reach the patients? How often do donors question if the funds are being used for the right purpose or even for the purchase of the right medicine? How often or ever, do donors question the usefulness of the kinds of donations? To ask these questions is to arrive at unsavoury answers for according to officials at the MCH, though donations are vital to keep the hospital functioning smoothly, most of what is donated, especially as 'medicine' is often useless and ends up as 'redundant stock'. It is the same with 'food' offered in the form of 'dana'. Because the kind of food donated cannot be consumed by cancer patients. "Most of the drug donations that come to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital are a waste of funds and donor contributions", said hospital official. This was corroborated by Dr. Yasantha Ariyaratne, Director Maharagama Cancer Hospital, who attributed the wastage to donor ignorance on how to access the necessary data from the correct authority. Pharmacy sources confirmed that donors, often unaware of the types of drugs that are in short supply, provide drugs that are already in the stores. "It is a wastage of drugs. If the donors get the correct information, they can help us to get the most necessary drugs, that are out of stock", official said. The drug requirement vary weekly and the best way to determine what's required is to enquire from the hospital authorities prior to purchasing the stocks for donations. "Most donors get the information from consultants or from the wards directly. The drugs required by a particular ward will not give a clue about the prevailing drug shortage of the hospital. Drugs that are out of stocks at a specific time are available at the time of the donation, the official said. However, all drugs donated have to undergo a thorough check for their efficacy before they are accepted and stored. The MCH gets enough 'dana' and donations in the form of medical equipment and medicinal drugs, thanks to the benevolance of people who like to help the sick, especially the terminally ill. But, a simple walk through wards will make one understand that the generosity and the caring could be put to better use. According to hospital officials, what's really needed is public participation in maintenance and cleaning of hospital wards. Officials said that public participation was essential to upgrade the facilities in the hospital. Areas that beg for donor assistance are maintenance and cleaning of the hospital wards and toilets, that are run-down and squalid. The matrons of most of the wards request donors to help them in cleaning these wards. "If they can employ two or three cleaning staffers to do the daily cleaning, it will be a great help", said the matron of the Ward No. 3. Abans has already assigned staff to carry out the daily cleaning of some of the wards and toilets. Though much of the drugs donated go waste , the hospital does need public participation to supplement the Rs. 230 million spent by the government on drugs, annually. The total annual expenditure of the hospital, including staffers salary is nearly Rs. 365 million. The Medical Officer in-charge of the Paediatric Oncology ward said that the hospital needed donor assistance to help poor parents who cannot afford some of the expensive drugs prescribed for children. Some of the medicine costs Rs. 300,000 to 400,000 a course. 'Taxsol' is such a drug which should be given six times and one vial costs Rs. 62,000, he said. Some donors are on-call to supply drugs when there is a shortage. 'Shanthi Foundation' is such a regular donor of drugs. But, given the number of patients seeking treatment daily the hospital needs more such donors. According to Dr. Ariyaratne, many Sri Lankans working abroad also make donations. "Some foreigners are also on the list. It is encouraging to see Advanced Level students engaged in the caring of cancer patients. They have to do social welfare projects and most of them select the cancer hospital for their projects", he pointed out. A state-of-the art therapy machine estimated to cost over Rs. 125 million was donated by the International Atomic Energy Authority to the hospital, recently. " Before accepting such big donations I have to plan the costs of annual maintenance and repairs after one year of the warranty period. This particular machine needs, Rs. 500,000 to change the cartilage every three months and Rs. 1.5 million annually for the maintenance, which is borne by the government", he pointed out. Dr. Ariyaratne thanked all those who wish to help cancer victims to make their lives better. But, the 'help' has not always been altruistic. The hospital had also experienced some unsavoury actions of the donors. " Most of the donors are good. But, some, who drop in without prior notice wish the hospital staff to be present at their tamashas", he said. "Some people pledge that they would continue with the donations but when we really need their help, the members have gone missing. Even fishing out the banker is a problem", Dr. Ariyaratne claimed. Dr. Ariyaratne also said that some people try to take advantages of the donations, compelling the hospital administration to follow tough procedures in accepting donations. A subject clerk has been appointed to keep a record and do the acknowledgements. "We do not take the responsibility for anything donated to anybody in the hospital unless it is officially acknowledged", he said. Oncologists on occasion prescribe expensive drugs for patients who can ill afford them. The President's Fund often steps into assist these patients. But hospital officials felt that it would be great assistance if the 400 odd companies including multi-national concerns that are registered in Sri Lanka could step in with a helping hand. " If each company can lend a helping hand and join the kind hearted donors in upgrading the facilities of cancer hospitals we can do a lot to ease the suffering of the terminally sick", they said. A religious group dubbed a 'religious mafia' are accused of engaging in converting poor and helpless cancer victims into other religions, at the hospital. 'Sunday Observer' reliably learns that this group disguised as members of the Non Governmental Organisations, enter the hospital with various gifts for the patients and try to convert them by showing miraculous ways in which the particular religion can cure the illness. Some cancer victims had been promised new houses and even foreign trips for medical treatment, if they change their religion. "This has been going on for several years in the hospital. We are helpless, since the country does not have laws to deal with such unethical conversions", said a senior medical officer, adding that Buddhist children affected with cancer and their parents who are very poor, and who are from very remote areas are vulnerable to these underhand conversion tactics. "It is easy to convert these patients who think that they need help from an unseen force to get cured. This allows so called NGO 'saviours' to enrol more members to their religion", he said. Director Ariyaratne confirmed that some 'donors' arrive at the hospital with the intention of converting patients. " It is unethical to transform people's religions when they are helpless and down with a life threatening illness. When we see someone trying to do such things, we turn them away, and return their donations. That is the only action we can take against such acts", he said. ****** * Over 10,158 new cancer patients were referred to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital Maharagama (MCH), last year. During the first six months of this year 5,045 new cases have been referred to the hospital. The total number of new cases reported to the MCH and the other three cancer units of Kandy, Galle and the Anuradhapura General hospitals were 13,030. This increased to 15,000 in 2002. * Over 78,000 patients attend for clinics at the MCH, annually. * Admission to MCH - 25,010 in 2002 and 23,350 in 2001. * Average stay per day at the MCH - 750 to 850 * Total Number of hospital beds - 651 * Over 1,157 cancer patients died at the MCH in 2002 and this excludes the number of deaths at homes and other places. * About 0.04% of the country's population contracts cancer every year. * Females are more prone to cancer than males. * Majority of females died due to cancers in the digestive system, genital organs and breast while males due to cancers in digestive and respiratory systems and oral cancer. * The leading cancer sites in relation to males - oropharyngeal, lung and bronchus, oesophageal and larynx and to females - Breast, cervix, oesophageal, oropharyngeal and ovarian * Majority of the reported cases in relation to males are tobacco related cancers, which are preventable and to majority of females are suffering cancer in the reproductive system, which is mostly curable, if diagnosed early. * Highest number of cancer cases were reported from the Colombo district. Source : Cancer Control Programme ***** Wards maintained by private companies * Wards 3 & 4 Maintained for a continuous period of ten years formerly by ANZ Grindlays and now after the takeover by Standard Chartered Bank * The Paediatric Oncology Unit - built by the Bank of Ceylon * Children's wards 15 A and 16 - maintained by - M.D. Gunasena * Ward No. 15 B fully renovated in 2002 to mark the 25-year service of Rt. Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando Archbishop of Colombo * Ward No. 1 & 2 - Maintained by the Buddhist Association of the Sri Lanka Navy. * Ward No. 17 - Renovated by Abans Ltd and the daily cleaning services of the wards are done by two minor staffers, employed by Abans. * Ward 21 - Maintained by the President's Security ***** How to make your donation worthwhile * Contact the Hospital Director or Deputy Director to get the list of necessary requirements. * Obtain the details from a consultant. * If you wish to donate medicinal drugs, contact the Pharmacist. * Do not donate drugs that are already available in the hospital pharmacy. * Do not give children affected with cancer sweets, yoghurt, milk packets, or short-eats. |
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