Anguished dad pleads - give me time to pay

Shihab, who is 3 years old, was treated at Starship children's hospital, Auckland, for a stroke and now his family could be deported if his father cannot pay the $37,500 bill. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

A Bangladeshi family, whose three-year-old son suffered a stroke, is pleading with the Auckland District Health Board for time to pay the bills.

Shihab Fahim, who has complex congenital heart disease, had a stroke in March while he was outside playing with his family.

He spent 21 days in Starship children's hospital in Auckland and needs ongoing therapy after being left paralysed down his right side. He is unable to speak and is fed through a tube in his nose.

His father, Ashraf Uddin Khokon, who is in New Zealand on a student visa, has paid $2500 of the $37,500 medical bill and asked the Auckland District Health Board to allow him to repay $50 a week.

But he has been sent a letter by the board saying the account must be settled within 12 months - the equivalent of $664.47 a week - or his case will be "placed in the hands of an international debt collector and New Zealand Immigration Service".

"I'm just asking for time, give me some time I will pay it. I am the responsible person, I have to pay. I am really worried and upset."

The father of two has medical insurance but it only covers 10 per cent of his children's medical expenses. He knew he would have to pay for his son's treatment but had no idea how much it would cost.

"I was very upset at the time so I didn't ask them [how much]. It was a question of life and death."

Mr Khokon, who is part-way through a homeopathy course at the Auckland College of Classical Homeopathy, also works part-time as a taxi driver to support his family and hopes to eventually gain a work permit to stay in New Zealand.

He worried that if the family were forced to return to Bangladesh his son would not receive the therapy he needs to be rehabilitated.

"After the therapy he can walk and is trying to speak. He's also trying to move his right arm."

The Bangladesh New Zealand Friendship Society has appealed to its Auckland members to help raise funds to pay Shihab's bills.

Ataur Rahman, honorary consul general for Bangladesh, said if Mr Khokon was "sent back to Bangladesh" the debt would not be paid as he would not earn enough.

"While he is here he is still working, he's still paying. If he becomes successful he will be able to repay the debt, that's a win-win situation."

"He [Shihab] didn't ask to have a stroke. It's one of those freak things that happen. It's the cards that are dealt. How do you compassionately handle that situation?"

In a statement the Auckland District Health Board said Shihab had had heart surgery in New Delhi. The stroke was an uncommon but recognised complication for children with his condition and New Delhi cardiologists had accepted him for further surgery later this year.

"Shihab's parents have been told that non-acute treatment is not available for free in New Zealand. They have been advised to return to Bangladesh many times, but have chosen to stay in New Zealand."

Anyone wanting to make a donation can send it to ASB Bank, Albert St, Account no 12-3113-0000326-01 (a hospital bank account).

Treatment rules

* All treatment provided to non-residents in New Zealand hospitals is generally charged for. There are reciprocal agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom whereby their citizens are not personally charged for acute care. There are a number of other exceptions, including refugees and teachers funded by the Ministry of Education's Foreign Language teaching Assistantship Scheme.

* Acute care is provided to non-residents without up-front payment.