Life-saving antibody treatment unavailable at SKIMS

Srinagar, Apr 3: An injection that saves the lives of critical patients is unavailable at SKIMS Soura, a shortage that has significantly impacted patient care, forcing patients to burn a hole in their pockets and procure it from the open market, or to rely on the generosity of supplies from Government Medical College hospitals.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is life-saving treatment that is a concentrate of antibodies from healthy donors to boost the immune system of patients with immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory conditions. A single injection costs anywhere between Rs 6000 to Rs 8000 in the market. This treatment is crucial for various conditions, including for patients in critical care,  with neurological diseases and sepsis. Over the past, patients have been facing dire situations due to the costs of the treatment they have to bear when forced to buy from the open market. Its unavailability at SKIMS Soura is a major gap in healthcare services, affecting patients who depend on this life-saving treatment, many of them children.

Many families told Greater Kashmir that patients requiring this therapy are facing delays or postponements in their treatment, exacerbating their conditions. "The cost of IVIG is not covered under AB PMJAY or SEHAT Scheme, nor is it available at the Drug counter of SKIMS, Soura," a parent whose child suffered from a critical condition and was admitted at SKIMS Soura told Greater Kashmir.  He said he initially had to buy injections from market, which cost Rs 30,000, and later, the SKIMS administration helped him procure it from Children Hospital Srinagar.

Children Hospital and other hospitals of GMC Srinagar,  as per reports, have stock of this injection.  However, the shortage at SKIMS Soura has also led to an increased burden on GMC hospitals, adding to the strain on the healthcare system. Incidentally, SKIMS is a major tertiary care hospital and the main facility for treatment of cancers and other life-threatening diseases.

An official told Greater Kashmir that the Children Hospital had allocated Rs 6 crore for IVIG exclusively,  while no such budget allocation was available at SKIMS leading to the unavailability.

Director SKIMS Soura, Dr Ashraf Ganai said efforts had been put in place to make the injection available at SKIMS Soura. "We are aware of the problems patients face. We will be having it free here at our Drug Counter, " he said.