They sleep on the sidewalk while a loved one is hospitalized : NPR

Key Points:

• Many families travel hundreds of miles to Delhi for critical medical treatment at public hospitals like AIIMS and Safdarjung but cannot afford lodging, leading them to sleep on sidewalks outside the hospitals during long treatment periods.
• These families, often from poor rural backgrounds, face harsh conditions including exposure to weather, safety concerns, and limited access to food, while trying to navigate complex hospital appointments and treatments.
• Although AIIMS offers some financial assistance and arranges low-cost accommodations, many patients and their relatives still end up living on the streets due to insufficient support or inability to pay for lodging.
• Charities and volunteers provide crucial aid such as food, clothing, and basic necessities to these sidewalk dwellers, but the help is limited and does not reach all in need.
• The situation highlights a stark contrast between the advanced medical care available at major hospitals and the dire living conditions endured by the patients' families, underscoring the broader challenges of healthcare access and affordability in India.