I usually avoid visiting hospitals and clinics. The word hospital scare me a lot, although I know deep inside that this is the place where we get medical treatment and they help patients with their medical needs but still I am never satisfied with their way of working. Maybe its because I have heard too many stories about hospitals where they unnecessarily keep the patients and delays treatment in order to make more money. This is all about business nowadays. Not all the hospitals do the same but it is hard to trust on anyone in current situations.
I have seen many people, parents of my friends treated well in hospitals but in the end, the billing invoice provided says it all. If you are heading to the hospital, you need to have lots of money. Luckily, I myself don’t have much experience of hospitals, just few only. Last time I was in hospital for the good news, that was for the birth of my second son. In December 2021, it was a special and memorable day for me. Me, my parents and my brothers were all there with me. I missed it in my first son’s birth because it was in Covid situation and no one was allowed in the hospital other than parents of the newly born baby. My first son born in the beginning of Covid and my second son ended it in 2021, Covid was almost over.
I was relaxed because my bro supported me like always and we booked a private room in the hospital. Everything went well and we saw the face of my second son then nurse took him to NICU for like 3-4 hours of observation. My wife was doing well, she looks ok but the pain was there which is normal, nothing serious. After few treatment, my wife and kid were shifted to the private room. We all were happy and were celebrating the birth of my second son. It was our third time in that hospital, we stick to the same hospital because of their cleanliness, good treatment and most importantly because of Gynae Doctor who knows us very well.
I was there all the time with my wife, taking care of her although nurses were taking good care of her and the kid but I cannot just leave them there and sleep at home. My Mother was there too whole night, playing with the baby. Those moments are golden moments, cannot describe each and everything but in short, I was very happy until the next day when I went home to change the cloths and came back to see that my kid was missing. My sister in law told me that baby was vomiting and not digesting the feed so we consulted with the doctor and they admitted him in NICU for the observation. Suddenly the whole good mood changed into bad, I was not ok with the decision.
Second night was a long one. waiting for updates from doctor but they were not giving me any report and even not allowing me to see my baby. Somehow, that cruel night passed away and next day, I discharged my wife and took her home. My son was still in NICU. The main shock for me when I saw the billing invoice. I was aware of all the charges except NICU charges and other treatments they provided to my baby. I was very angry and took it to the upper management. Why no one asked me or told me about these charges, even they didn’t took my permission before putting cannula to my baby. I was shouting and screaming on everyone. My bro helped me to calm down and makes me understand that we cannot argue with the doctors, this would be harmful for us. We have to cooperate with the doctors and hospital staff. They have our kid. I got the point and then politely asked hospital staff to show me by baby. I requested them to discharge him asap. They said that there are few tests reports they were waiting for and then doctor will decide and share the outcome. I knew that my baby was OK and nothing serious but still I cannot do anything.
My bro talked to upper management and they finally cleared my baby. Money is not bigger than our lives. We paid all the charges and cleared our bills. Finally after three nights at hospital, we took our baby home. My kid was on observation in NICU, they just kept him in the box and didn’t do anything special but they charged me with too many things. Once again, we cannot argue with them because they are the life savers, helping people. Its all about money, business. Well, I just pray that no one gets in such situation and away from hospitals as much as we can unless it is the last option.