BENGALURU : A 47-year-old HIV positive man from Chintamani in Chikkaballapur district was allegedly denied treatment by the governmentrun Institute of Nephro Urology (INU) in Victoria Hospital campus. However, the hospital has dismissed allegations of discrimination.For the past three years, the man has been undergoing treatment in Bengaluru to avoid the stigma he might face in his native town. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with renal failure and was put on dialysis at INU in May 2018. However in July, he was told to seek treatment at his native place or in any other hospital.He was a construction labourer and as he’s suffering from tuberculosis and kidney disorder, he’s unable to work now. His homemaker wife is also an HIV patient . Their only son is pursuing graduation in Chintamani.His wife told STOI they’re facing discrimination everywhere. “I approached the government hospital in Chintamani also, but considering his HIV status, they said as it’s a high-risk case he needed a separate machine for dialysis However, doctors claimed all patients who come to INU are initially treated here as it’s a peripheral centre. Later, they are advised to go back to their native places for further treatment as these facilities are available in all districts now.“It’s not a case of discrimination. I will look into the issue,” said institute director Dr Shivalingaiah. He said over 80 patients undergo dialysis every day and had to be taken to INU only. We went to INU last week, but the hospital is not treating him,” she alleged.She said from May to July, he was put on dialysis thrice a week. But it stopped since July. When his condition worsened a week ago, INU refused treatment. The family tried its luck with other government hospitals in Bengaluru, but was turned away on the grounds that he required a special machine for dialysis.

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