Where Money Helps Not

Where Money Helps Not

“Money never fails” …. This is what those who possess oodles of money like to believe. They believe that the effects of all illnesses are subject to what is paid to related medical centres and pharmacies. They believe that every bit of reality has a price tag attached to it and can be bought. And every time, whatever needs to be changed or sought after, should only need the right price attached to it.

Today the world, which went by this concept, at least in theory, is held back by the startling realities that occur every day.  Life is now completely controlled by unpredictable and random occurrences, almost completely under the control of the virus that has taken the entire mankind by surprise. The question now in, what is the way forward? How far does money pave way? Can we beat the COVID19 pandemic by ways, other than paying our way through? Here is the real life story of a world famous person, who succumbed to COVID19.

‘We are a millionaire family, but my father died alone and suffocated, looking for something as simple as air. The money stayed at home”, this is what the bereaved daughter of Antonio Vieira Monteiro, of the Portuguese unit of Spain’s largest bank, Santander, who died from the coronavirus, had to say about her father’s demise. The money indeed stays at home and no amount of it came to aid those who are suffocating for the most freely available of commodities available –breathable air.

Enquiring about the availability of Remdesivir, the only known care for COVID patients, Johnny K J, a bosom friend and  senior representative of a famous pharmaceutical house, was forthcoming with all available stations for this life saving medicine. Attending to my call at midnight on the first ring itself, the information he provide was invaluable. Not only did he provide me with contact details but all vital details required, as ideally suited to the crisis.

However on calling around, it was with dismay that one realised that this vital medicine was not in availability. For those struggling for life breathe, this life saver drug, is the difference between living and dying. Even at exorbitant prices this medicine, was unavailable and money was the last factor in the saving of life.

There were many doctors and pharmacies of repute that was contacted and to no avail. These were moments of reality, where all the balance in the bank account paid off to nought. These were moments of realization, when all the powers of the greenback failed and only belief, trust and the love to one another worked. As someone who is closely involved with the care of the pandemic, it was with a sense of considerable alarm that one gets to know that a pioneer in business in Trivandrum, Abhilash R Pillai was inflicted and was searching for a hospital to be admitted into. The dreadful fact was it was not available, even at exorbitant prices.

It was only the timely interference of Dr K K Manojan, director of the Gokulam Medical College, a trustee and worthy member of the Swasthi Foundation’s team of doctors, the Swasthi Healing Hands that procured a lifesaving bed of hope for the sufferer. It need be noted that doctors like Dr K K Manojan are the true hope for a humankind that is reeling under this huge surge of the deadly pandemic.

It is about time humanity in a mad rush for wealth realised that owning the biggest and the best, or having the wherewithal to buy and own even the best does not mean that you are above the reach of illnesses. It take a network of human hearts and minds and a support team of those ready to reach out and help to keep humanity intact. There surely will be deadlier illnesses in the future and we will constantly be in the danger of a host of other dangers, too. The need of the hour is for humans to stand by each other and be ready to lend the hand of support for all. That is what Swasthi Foundation was founded for,