A homeless 22-year-old woman by the name of Shamim, who has been sleeping in the streets with her blind mother for the past three years, was hospitalized on December 15 due to a severe case of influenza.
The hospital has refused to dismiss her because she cannot pay the hospital fees. Shamim and her mother have no relatives.
The report was posted by a social aid worker on Thursday, December 17.
Hospital officials said Wednesday that Shamim must pay the 5.5 million rials ($153) fee, and another 1.79 million rials ($50) for pharmaceuticals, otherwise she would not be dismissed.
“We told the hospital ward that the girl is not able to pay her fees, that she has no family and that she has been living in a park,” the social worker said.
“The ward referred us to the social aid section. A social aid worker said until Shahm cannot be dismissed until her medical fees are paid. We kept emphasizing that they don’t even have a roof over their heads, how can they pay the 8-million-rial hospital fee but we did not receive any answers.”
The issue was raised with deputy health minister Harirchi, however, he did nothing to have the young woman released.
