How healthcare became unaffordable for non-coronavirus patients in pandemic

Tanvi Vij, 22, has spinal muscular atrophy type II, a genetic disease that has left her completely immobile. This year, her condition deteriorated so much that her family decided to buy a hoist that can help her get out of bed and get on to her wheelchair.

But the government’s decision to impose a lockdown on account of Covid-19, and the cancellation of all flights, disrupted the family’s plans. Her father could not travel to Mumbai to meet the vendor and have the hoist customised for Tanvi and delivered to Delhi. This would have cost about Rs 60,000.

“So now we have to buy this hoist from a vendor in Delhi but it cannot