The amount was needed urgently for three doses of Remedesivir, which the doctors said each would cost at least ₹30,000.
“I was crying all the way to the nearby pawnbroker who said he would give only ₹1 lakh at an interest of 2.5% a month.
Ms. Jyothi is not alone in being faced with a financial crisis due to the pandemic, which has hit several thousand families.
Similar is the story of Yalamanchili Ramu of family jewellery for the treatment of his mother, daughter and himself who were admitted to a corporate hospital in Secunderabad.
“Yes, for the past one month there is a steady increase of people who are pledging gold ornaments for treatment.