New Delhi:
In India, government institutions are the greatest levellers. Chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, had to wait for five hours to get admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Kalmadi has been in Tihar Jail for the last three months, for the multi-crore CWG scam.
To add insult to the injury, the 67-year-old MP from Pune, who arrived at AIIMS around 10am on Monday, tripped on the stairs as he was rushing to the Cardio-Neuro Tower. He was admitted to a private ward around 3.30pm. On July 12, after he complained of dizziness, doctors had advised Kalmadi to get admitted to a hospital and undergo "complete evaluation".
He was first taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, from where he was referred to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, where he underwent an MRI scan on July 19. "After reading the MRI reports, doctors advised us to get him checked by a good neuro-specialist at AIIMS or GB Pant hospital. Kalmadi requested in writing to be admitted to AIIMS," said a jail official.
"He has several cardio-vascular system-related problems, and diabetes. We cannot say anything until all the test results have come. But it does not mean he is suffering from dementia," said Dr M V Padma, professor at the department of Neurology.
Kalmadi was charged Rs 12,000 and was also to produce his CGHS and ID cards. A three-member team, including Dr Padma, cardiologist Dr Rakesh Yadav and Dr Aarti Vij, attended to him.
"Kalmadi has been admitted in room number 1001 of the CN Tower," informed a doctor, requesting anonymity. On his last visit to the hospital on July 28, Kalmadi had claimed he was "all right". On Monday, when asked about his condition, he seemed irritated and said, "Ask the doctors. Can't I have a check-up?"