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Use @aakashhealthcare and #BewareofAakashHealthcare to tag on Facebook.
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I have always used this blog to write about my travels. But, at the moment this is the only resource I have to reach out to you and tell you how the greed and negligence of Aakash healthcare super specialty hospital have tortured us.
“Have you ever been a victim of a doctor’s greed and incompetence?”
My name is Gaurav Bhan Bhatnagar. This is my experience with Aakash Healthcare, Sector-3, Dwarka, which calls itself a super specialty medical facility. Aakash healthcare belongs to the same management that owns the famed Aakash Institute for medical and IIT-JEE courses. I had a simple case of gall bladder stone, and the so-called ‘Senior Consultant’ Dr. Nikhil Yadav took up my case in July 2019.
Admission details – (UHID number/ IP number/ Bed number: AHDW.91778/ 15477/ 543)
Blunder by Aakash Healthcare
Because I had mild jaundice, Dr. Sharad Malhotra recommended an endoscopy to install a stent. With no coordination between the dietitian and the Gastroenterology team, Aakash healthcare gave me dosa sambhar in breakfast. Suddenly, the doctors planned an endoscopy without speaking to the dietitian. I vomited during the endoscopy procedure because the food was still undigested. For those who do not know – had that vomit entered my lungs, which was a very high chance, I wouldn’t have been alive.
“Had the vomit entered my lungs, which was a very high chance, I wouldn’t have been alive”
Acute Pancreatitis
Rather than owning their blunder, the doctors immediately put the blame on us. Records of that day’s diet would still be available in hospital software (if not already deleted). As a result of the first failed endoscopy and injury to the Pancreas, I developed ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) induced acute pancreatitis and internal swelling.
According to this article on APA (Americal Pancreatic Association) by B. Joseph Elmunzer, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina – Pancreatitis is a costly and often devastating complication of ERCP which can be avoided. It leads to substantial morbidity, occasional mortality, and increased healthcare expenses due to prolonged hospitalization and patient suffering.
“Being a layman, we had put entire trust in the doctors to guide us. We had no idea that the doctors were taking us for a ride.”
The second attempt to do an endoscopy also failed. Because of this carelessness, I am suffering till today. Aakash healthcare started treatment for pancreatitis with no specialist department or experience in handling such problems. They gave me 18-20 tablets and supplements all day which had huge side effects on my internal organs.
“Dr. Sharad Malhotra and his team are directly responsible for giving me ERCP induced acute pancreatitis”
“Beware of sharks such as Aakash healthcare who intend to suck last drop of blood”
How My Health Deteriorated
Meanwhile, they infused me with approximately 38 units of blood with no positive results. My hemoglobin level fell below 5. Ideally, it should be between 13 and 17. I experienced extreme weakness and frequent blackouts in my vision. My family had to arrange blood donors which was a herculean task at that time of suffering.
At this point, I want to thank all my friends and relatives who stood by my sorrows. My stomach started to fill with water, blood, and puss. But none of the novice doctors at Aakash healthcare had any confidence or expertise in removing this liquid. After repeated requests, they made a feeble attempt but could only manage to extract about a liter.
I bloated beyond tolerance but they kept ignoring it. The liquid in my stomach began solidifying and started decomposing other organs apart from Pancreas. I have become a skeleton with just a layer of skin and nothing more. I am 6 ft. tall. Before getting admitted to Aakash healthcare, my weight was 72 kg. Due to this mistreatment, my weight today is 41 kg.
“Aakash healthcare messed up my case making it critical to do a surgery at Sir Gangaram hospital”
The Loot Begins
While we were in Aakash healthcare, our daily bill of medicines was anywhere between 15 and 25 thousand, sometimes more, which is ridiculous. They exhausted my mediclaim policy worth 6.5 lacs in a matter of weeks. I had swelling in my whole body due to edema, but so-called Senior Consultant Dr. Nikhil Yadav just ignored a serious discussion on my health. My health deteriorated so much that I had to struggle to go to the washroom even with the help of a ward boy. The nurses and support staff could clearly see this, but they were probably under threat to remain silent. Due to internal politics in Aakash healthcare, other visiting doctors remained silent.
“Did we get this punishment for having a mediclaim worth 6.5 lacs?”
“After 1.5 months of being in Aakash healthcare, they wanted to shift me into ICU. Why – To extract more money?”
Aakash Healthcare Staff Created Obstacles
Dr. Nikhil Yadav and Dr. Rahul threatened my sister to not talk to other patients and hospital colleagues. Were they doctors or goons? What were they scared of? They did not have the conscience to refer me to another hospital like Sir Gangram which had the experience and full-fledged facility to handle such cases. But Aakash healthcare was holding me to extract as much money as they could. The staff even tried to create obstacles in the discharge process and mentally tortured us. They released me after a lot of shouting and threatening to call the police.
We had to finally take a call on midnight of August 31, 2019, and my family admitted me to Sir Gangaram hospital on September 1, 2019, where I had to undergo a major/high-risk pancreatic surgery. This expensive surgery could have been avoided had Aakash healthcare not messed up my case.
“I had continuous hiccups and vomited all day and night”
“Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka is a monster’s den with one way entry and no exit”
Aakash Healthcare Has Left Us ‘Bankrupt’
Till now, we have spent over 23 lacs which is beyond our capacity, yet I am far from being 100% fit. My personal life and work are messed up, banks are empty and credit cards have dried up. We are on the verge of such exhaustion that we don’t have money to arrange the diet recommended for me. We had to consider taking loans from friends and mortgage valuables. My sister who is my caregiver hasn’t been to work since July. Other siblings are in credit card debt which they are unable to pay.
“Will Aakash healthcare super specialty hospital pay for our financial losses to mend the damage that they have done?”
It is not only about the large sum of money that Aakash healthcare literally looted, but also the mental and physical torture that I and my family faced. Aakash healthcare shamelessly looted all that we earned with our blood, sweat, and hard work. The irony is, such hospitals continue to fool people and thrive.
A patient is not an object for a lab test. Will the licenses of such doctors and hospitals be canceled?
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I request you to please comment and share this post as much as possible on social media for these reasons –
- Don’t let others fall into such traps. People need to know what corrupt doctors are doing for money
- Aakash healthcare needs to know that they cannot brush off their hands
- We are a simple family who doesn’t have the means to raise our voice to people – except writing this article. So, we need your help in spreading the word
Response from Aakash Healthcare
[18/12/2019]: We recently received a response from Aakash Healthcare on Facebook asking us to talk one on one. While we appreciate this, why did they not bother when we were trying to talk to them earlier? Why no one bothered to respond to us when gave one on one feedback before discharge?
Feedback to Aakash Healthcare
Fraud
All they want is money no humanity
This institute should be shut down immediately without a second thought
Yes Manisha, the whole ordeal was horrific – and it has still not ended. You can help by sharing this on social media. Use #BewareofAakashHealthcare and tag their fb page.
This is ghastly. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. I hope you get better soon and travel. We sadly live in a world where money is More important than empathy and owning up. All my positive energy to you.
Thank you for your wishes Divya. I am open to all the positive energy coming in 🙂
These super speciality hospitals in india are basically hotels where predators called as doctors are only after your money. Navi Mumbai Fortis Hospital is another such hell which can only deteriorate the situation of a patient. They did same with my father. The bill kept rising but simple urine infection never been cured which cost dear to his health and memory.
Rightly said Tushar. I hope your father is well now? The treatment I got at Gangaram Hospital saved my life. In the name of modern treatment, Aakash Hospital was doing nothing but increasing the bill. They knew they did not have the expertise to cure me, but still, they didn’t refer me to any other place.
So sorry to hear about this. Noone can trust doctors in India anymore. It has become a business for making money. You are educated and well read so you have been able to raise your voice. There are so many that would be suffering only.
I would recommend talking to lawyer or a law agency who can take up a case on pro bono basis for taking this in consumer forum. You need to be paid back not just the amount they charged you but also compensation for mental and physical agony. Let this be a lesson.
Hi Swati, yes I agree with you that not everyone can raise the voice and reach out to the people. It is very suffocating when something wrong is done, and you can’t do anything about it. We tried to talk to the hospital management many times, but they weren’t bothered. Now they want to have one-on-one chat when their blunder is up online. Urging everyone out there to not sit quietly because cases like these are common these days.
This is frightful, have you approached any news media? This should come out in all newspapers
We are trying to do that Sony. But common man has to make that extra effort always.
Yes they are frauds. We have also experienced d same and got our patient discharged
Please share you experience if you are comfortable doing that. Being quiet encourages such hospitals.
Gaurav, no words could heal your suffering.we can pray to god to give you good health and take away your sufferings.
I can’t even advice you to do a court case as they are the other institutions of extracting money without a promise of justice .
We are all with you against such monsters who have no empathy and human values.
Take care Gaurav
Thanks Shikha. Yes, I know courts are institutions to extract money. But I guess there are good people/ lawyers also.
Yes Gaurav, I am sure there are. We all are with you if you decide to do the same.
This hospital should be shut down.
But first all my wishes for your speedy recovery.
Thank you Shikha for your wishes. The wishes give lots of strength. I wish a good and successful life to you. 🙂
How are you now Gaurav. I’m so sorry you had to go through this horror. Wish you speedy recovery. Sharing this on my SM feed. Scary what they did to you.
Thank you Alka. The wishes of everyone are much needed 🙂
This is just not acceptable man they should be punished for such an act. The hospital should be shut down and doctors to be tried in court and punished. Bless you brother!!
Thanks for reading Tushar. And thank you for your blessings.
Need your bank account number and IFSC code. I don’t live in India but has HDFC india account and the link you provided doesn’t accept non-indian number.
Send the information to gmate.sunny@gmail.com
I could transfer a little sum I could.
Thank you for your message brother. I’ve emailed you the bank details on gmate.sunny@gmail.com 🙂
I guess you need to sue the hospital for medical negligence if Gangaram doctors are willing to endorse! Check any reliable lawyer in your circle, please ensure that all evidence bare deposited & certified. Corrupt lawyers don’t produce or submit evidence & defeat your case! Lower court is important! I believe consumer forum is better option! Check with experts Good Luck
Thank you for your suggestions Umesh ji.
This is a horrible blunder by the hospital..I wish the ignorant fools are punished and you get better soon ?
Thanks for your wishes Nidhi 🙂
Sorry to hear about your ordeal. Perhaps you can approach the consumer forum/courts? All the very best to you.
Thank you very much brother 🙂
We had same issues with so called multi specialists place at Jamnagar, Gujarat.
No sanitation, no sterilization and doctor on call was homeopathic practitioner. I am health care practitioner so I know when I see dubious treatment. I wrote them letters and went on social media but 11 months and still no answer, I am afraid to go to India now.
Narendra, yes I understand. The medical scenario in India is quite scary. This mediclaim thing has made doctors so greedy that they want to exhaust your card no matter what. I wonder how they are able to sleep peacefully at night.
It’s really shocking. Though I have an impression that these private corporate hospitals are real monsters, this particular case of yours really disturbs me to the infinite. Can’t imagine that this kind of inhumanity is being experienced by many like you. Am very disturbed. Will share with as many as possible. So that can avoid many falling prey to these money making tactics of such private hospitals. What a shame ?
I wish you all the best to get back to your real health. And pls share your bank details.
Hello, yes I know that it is disturbing. And trust me it was agonizing for us to the limit. It was really a monster’s den.
I am sending you the bank details via direct email.
Thank you once again for reading this. Please share this in your community. We cannot let others fall prey to such things.
I have paytm some help. Wishes for your speedy recovery.
Thank you Samagra. I wish you a happy, healthy and successful life. 🙂
I never though that a prestigious group like Aakash can do something as horrendous as this. All this is because of the game of mediclaim insurance. Human life is a joke for medical institutions.
Rightly said Rakesh ji.
The entire hospital is full of greedy people.. they only talk about money not for the patient’s condition improvement.these people are not corona warriors these are butchers only.. will keep Ur patients in ventilator just to make 6-7 lacs .. they don’t care about patients.. because of these people I lost my mother.. initially we paid hospital bills but the day we said that we will pay after seeing improvement in my mother’s condition then only will pay the rest of the amount.. next day they declared my mother is dead because of cardiac arrest…a bunch of inexperienced doctors are there to do the treatment of the Covid positive patients.. initially they told us that it’s heart and lungs’s issue then kidney then brain.. kept my mother for 16 days on a ventilator.. and the day we said that we will pay after seeing the improvement in the condition only as you people are charging us for so much expensive treatment but not seeing a single improvement in my mother’s condition..these people are not corona warriors these are only butchers who are taking advantage of the global pandemic.. government hospitals are full with the patients and less staff to attend but this hospital you will see around staff who just taking advantage of the patient’s condition making money with adding so many problems in patient’s health… The worst hospital have ever seen… please do not visit this hospital if u love Ur family.
I hope your family is coping up Sushmita. I am sorry to hear about your loss.