RIYADH, 4 May 2004 — An expatriate worker cannot afford a SR25,000 hospital bill and claim the body of his two and a half year-old son. The child who died yesterday was admitted to the General Organization Social Insurance (GOSI) Hospital on April 21 for a minor operation.
The hospital offered a package of SR2,900 for the surgery, and the baby’s father Maledan K. Wilson paid SR5,000 to cover possible additional costs. After surgery, the child was admitted to the intensive care unit where the bill soared to SR44,000. After some negotiation, the hospital agreed to accept SR25,000.
Although Wilson, from the south Indian state of Kerala, has been with his employer for several years, his contract does not include family medical benefits. The hospital has given him 15 days to settle the bill. In the meantime, the body will be moved to the mortuary at Riyadh Central Hospital.
“Every one of us should come forward to assist a fellow countryman in distress in a foreign land,” the vice president of the Riyadh-based KELI, N.A. Wahid, told Arab News. KELI is a South Indian organization which works for the welfare of Indians in the Kingdom.
Wahid said his organization would meet the Labor Welfare Officer at the Indian Embassy to seek assistance from the Indian Expatriates Welfare Fund. He added that he would also ask Air-India for complimentary air tickets so that the parents could accompany their son’s body.
