A private hospital in Koyra, Khulna, named Koyra Hospital, has waived nearly Tk 20,000 in medical expenses for a financially distressed speech-impaired woman who underwent an emergency Caesarean section and gave birth to a baby girl.
Forty-five-year-old Johra Khatun was taken to Koyra Hospital and Diagnostic Centre late at night after her condition deteriorated. Doctors examined her and advised an emergency second C-section.
But Johra had no money to pay for the procedure. Her only support was her elderly mother, who was also unable to arrange the treatment costs.
Despite the financial crisis, the Koyra Hospital authorities arranged the emergency operation. The procedure was successfully completed, and Johra gave birth to a baby girl. Both the mother and newborn were reported to be in stable condition.
The family, however, remained unable to pay the medical bills. The surgeon’s fee alone was Tk 7,000, while another Tk 13,000 was required for medicines, treatment and other services.
The situation came to the attention of Koyra Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mohammad Rezaul Karim. He contacted Koyra Hospital and Diagnostic Centre Managing Director Md Alamgir Hossain and requested assistance for the distressed family.
After learning about Johra’s circumstances, the managing director instructed hospital staff not to charge her any further fees. The hospital also provided the required medicines free of cost.
As a result, the hospital waived approximately Tk 20,000 in total expenses and discharged Johra and her newborn without collecting any treatment or medicine costs.
Johra is a resident of Garoi Khali village under Garoi Khali Union of Paikgachha upazila. She had been living with her elderly mother in the Mathbari area of Hayatkhali Bazar in Koyra.
According to family members, Johra’s husband, Hobi Gain, left her about five months ago. Since then, she had been living in severe financial hardship with her elderly mother.
Local residents praised the hospital authorities for supporting the mother when financial hardship threatened to prevent her from receiving emergency medical care.
They said such humanitarian assistance could encourage other healthcare institutions and financially capable individuals to stand beside vulnerable patients in times of crisis.
“Standing beside helpless patients is one of the greatest humanitarian aspects of healthcare. Such assistance will encourage other institutions and affluent individuals to come forward and support people in distress,” local residents said.
Md Alamgir Hossain said the hospital decided to waive the expenses after learning about the family’s financial hardship.
“After learning about the family’s financial hardship, we decided not to charge them anything on humanitarian grounds. Necessary medicines were also provided free of cost. The fact that the mother and newborn have returned home safely is what matters most to us,” he said.
The family expressed gratitude to the hospital’s doctors, nurses, management and other staff members, saying the hospital’s support helped them overcome a critical situation when they had no means to pay for the mother’s treatment.
