Hi
I was not aware that you needed a medical check up to study in countries other than the USA.
In the USA, no medical check up is needed for getting a student visa. But the usual students insurance given to students does not cover any pre-existing condition for one year. But subsequently, if the student insurance plan is from a good insurance agent, then one can get lucky.
Without insurance and that means, without a job, one cannot get treated in the USA, because it is extremly expensive and private insurance will not cover such huge costs for the treatment of thalassaemia. the co-payments would be way too high.
My daughter is in the USA since the fall of 2000. . She went as a student and now she has a good job.
She is totally covered by her company's insurance policy. But if, she didnt feel like working someday, then it would be hard for her to fund her treatmant. :smile2
She also did have a lot of trouble looking for funding for her treatmant as a student. But she was indeed very very lucky to have found the Sickle Cell Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, who were willing to take up her case and pay for the TOTAL cost of the treatment, including Desferal, which came to her at her doorstep every week, all one and ready to use. She also went to school at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. This was a special prog. of the center for people under the low income group, with blood disorders and specific to the state ( NC) only. Without their help, it would not have been possible for her to study in the USA.
Every night she searched the net for hours together to find a way out and that paid i guess.
And the sickle center of Greensboro took her in without any hassel at all. All it took her was one email to the Director of the center ( Dr. Mariette Douglas). It was unblieveable! She was like the fairy godmother out to grant all of my daughter's wishes.
And i shall be eternally grateful to her. Words cannot describe how much the center helped my daughter all through her school years.
And luckily she had got admission in Greensboro. Infact, she did get admission elsewhere in the USA, but since she was not getting insurance coverage from them, she could not take it up.
They supported her for two years, while she was doing her MS.
Now she has a job, which pays for everything.
So when I hear about the bad stuff in the USA, I can only be nothing else but GRATEFUL to that country for doing so much good for my daughter and providing her with opportunities that i could never have given her.
As I believe too much bad always lead to far far too much of good. Whatever said and done, and how much we have improved situations in India, the kind of life USA has provided her, cannot ever be denied or argued upon. It is the total acceptance by the society at large there. She did not have to hide to her colleagues or her bosses that she had thalassaemia, and she needed time in the hospitals etc. They also allowed her to work from home, when she was on the painful treatment of Interferon for a year.. They always told her that her Health was the most important factor. But that did not stop her promotions or anything. Recently she has changed her job for a better offer.
So maybe you can also try, one of these charitable institutions and try and find out a way.
And if one tries hard, there will be a way out!
Nobody has the right to reject anyone in whatever matter( not only denying that person of an education) on grounds of health, especially if you are born with a condition, for which you are not responsible. It is the huge cost of the treatment which is the main culprit. I am sure if you were a diabetic or something similar, there would not have been a problem.
So it all ultimately it all boils down to that ONE FACTOR.. the COST? And what are we doing about it? Nobody seem to really care?
We just vent our anger and our frustrations here within ourselves but we are really helpless, unless the Govt wakes up to the fact.
Wonder how many active members of the various Thal Associations, who can make the difference, read this site regularly?
If there is more that you would like to know, please mail me..
Hope this helps
Shikha