Omar Artich and his wife, a doctor in Arkansas, USA. The couple said they would not receive the patient’s overdue medical bills after closing the cancer clinic, which had been operating for about 30 years. [CNN 캡처]
– A doctor in Arkansas in the United States canceled $650,000 (about 710 million won) for treatment that about 200 cancer patients could not repay. While closing the hospital, which has been operating for 29 years, a big decision was made to help patients who were in trouble with the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
US doctors from immigrants beautiful decision CNN reports
Last year’s Christmas card sent to inform you that you don’t have to pay back
“The best honor to treat patients and gain trust”
Most of those who could not pay back decided to suffer from Corona 19
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According to CNN on the 9th (local time), Pakistani oncologist Omar Artik founded a cancer clinic in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1991, for those in need and has been running it for nearly 30 years. Then, last year, they decided to close the hospital and investigated the debt collection company and unpaid medical expenses. In the process, Artique discovered that patients and their families were struggling financially in the aftermath of Corona 19.
During the Christmas holiday last year, Artique sent a Christmas card to patients and their families stating that they did not have to pay medical bills. The Christmas card says, “The Arkansas Cancer Clinic was proud to take you as a patient. Most of the treatment costs of many patients have been covered by various medical insurance, but there are still people who are burdened with treatment costs. Our clinic has decided to give up all medical bills that patients have not paid to our hospital. I wish you a happy Christmas.”
![A Christmas card sent to patients at the Arkansas Cancer Clinic run by Omar Artique. The card says, ″I will give up my medical bills. It was written that it was an honor to serve you”. [CNN 캡처]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202101/10/27c7df56-ef5e-4960-b31a-1f1422206437.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
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A Christmas card sent to patients at the Arkansas Cancer Clinic run by Omar Artique. The card says, ″I will give up my medical bills. It was written that it was an honor to serve you”. [CNN 캡처]
– About 200 patients benefited from Artique’s decision. With treatment costs ranging from as little as a few thousand dollars to as many as tens of thousands of dollars per patient, the total cost of treatment that Artich gave up is more than 650,000 dollars (about 710 million won).
In an interview with CNN, Artique said, “I’m glad we don’t need that much money.” “I was always uneasy about having to worry about medical expenses when citizens and people in the community were sick,” he said.
“The top priority I have kept is that I am here to look after the patients,” he said. “It is the highest honor and privilege I can get for patients to trust me and give their lives to me.” “We have never rejected any patient for any reason,” he said.
Artik, who is also a professor at Arkansas Medical School, comes from a Pakistani immigrant. Realizing the lack of cancer centers in the community, he decided to become an oncologist and established a cancer center in the city of Pine Bluff in 1991 that could be used by the economically weak.
Reporter Seok Kyung-min [email protected]
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