VSS doctors pay for surgery of daily wage labourer
BHUBANESWAR: In a noble gesture, some junior doctors of VSS Medical College and Hospital at Burla contributed from their pockets for the surgery of a poor man, who was running from pillar to post for help. Samesara Nayak, a daily wage earner from Phulbani district, had a 'rare' facial growth of around 1.5kg (flesh), which had disfigured his looks. After a 'difficult' surgery earlier this week, the man is stable, hospital sources said.

While the medicos pooled around Rs 20,000, they arranged surgical equipment and medicines using their good influence on chemists. Two of the doctors donated blood. The total cost of the treatment was pegged at Rs 70,000.



"The 35-year-old man was in unbearable pain due to the unwanted growth. After approaching various hospitals, he had landed in Burla on May 22," said president of Junior Doctors' Association Dr Nilamadhab Prusty.

Hospital sources said though there is provision of bearing the cost of poor patients through state treatment fund (STF), its release is a lengthy process. "We did not want to wait for the government money. The patient has applied for the STF, which can be used for his follow-up treatment," said Prusty.

A team of five doctors operated on his face on May 28. "It was a difficult decision but we did not want to send him back. The facial growth was increasing each passing day worsening the man's woes," said Dr Souvagini Acharya, who led the surgery.

"I feel satisfied to have performed the surgery successfully. It was a very critical one and took around eight hours," she said.

It was a new lease of life for Nayak as the ugly growth had almost 'ostracized' him. "I had never imagined I will ever get back in shape," said Nayak.

Doctors suspect the man's growth may be due to sarcoma, a type of cancer. His tissues have been sent for autopsy. If the growth is found malignant, he will undergo radiotherapy otherwise he will be discharged, hospital sources said.

Hospital authorities lauded the good Samaritans. "It is a laudable step. Both carrying out the difficult surgery and volunteering to help a needy are appreciable," said Dr SK Mishra, who heads the ENT department. VSS principal Dr Santosh K Behera said, "As head of the institution, I feel proud that the junior doctors rose to the occasion to help a needy patient. We are trying to help the patient for his follow-up," said Behera.