A marketing director has successfully battled COVID-19 and found that more than medication, it takes a positive attitude and determination to overcome the virus.
KS Naidu, from Kancharapalem, town, was advised to have a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) done in a private hospital if he complained of body ache and fever. He was charged £ 1,500 for the test and an additional £ 500 for a blood test before being confirmed positive for COVID-19.
The doctor prescribed a list of medications that cost £ 3,000 for 14 days of home isolation. “I was skeptical of the test result as over 20 other people were simultaneously positive in the hospital and received the same course. I moved with my wife and two daughters to live with my in-laws near Parvathipuram in the Vizianagaram district, ”says Naidu.
The condition worsens
Within a short period of time, his oxygen saturation level dropped to 86 and a CT scan showed a 22/25 result that required hospitalization with oxygen assistance. Since there were no oxygen beds in Parvathipuram, he was advised to go to Visakhapatnam. “After unsuccessfully searching for oxygen beds in city hospitals, I returned to Vizianagaram city and was able to get an oxygen bed at a hospital near the belfry after my relatives used their influence through some local doctors,” says he.
He was given oxygen assistance and medication that night, and his condition improved slightly by the next morning. “I received six injections of remdesivir over a six day period. Already during my treatment I had seen patients die on other beds and at first I was quite appalled. However, I reassured myself that some other health problems might have made her condition worse, ”he explains.
“I had nutritious food and I never had depressive thoughts. I’m only 40 and I have no health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure. I recovered within 10 days and my oxygen levels became normal. A second test showed that I was COVID-19 negative, ”he says with relief.
Exorbitant fees
However, paying the hospital bills turned out to be another huge burden on him. “I was asked to pay £ 4 for treatment and the hospital was willing to only accept cash and refused to give any bills,” he said of his predicament.
“I had to pool money from relatives and other sources to pay for the hospital. However, I didn’t want to make it a problem as I was healed. If they had issued the invoices, I would have asked for a refund, ”he notes.