Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, one doctor in Arkansas decided to lend a helping hand.
What We Know:
- Doctor Omar Atiq is an oncologist, a doctor who treats and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. According to WMAZ, Atiq started his own clinic in Pine Bluff, the Arkansas Cancer Institute, in 1991, bringing accessible care to patients in Southeast Arkansas for over 29 years.
- When Doctor Atiq retired, and the clinic was shut down, he noticed his patients were still sending checks to repay their surmounting medical debt. He understood their efforts to relieve their debt but knew they didn’t have the means to do so.
- “It seems unfair that a person who has a serious illness has to then be looking for finances as well as getting all the treatments they need. Being sick is hard, having cancer is harder, and having cancer in this pandemic is devastating,” Doctor Atiq explained.
- After getting together with his family, the Pakistan native decided to wipe out $650,000 dollars of collective medical debt for 200 of his patients. He wrote them all a Christmas card that said, “I hope this note finds you well. The Arkansas Cancer Clinic was proud to serve you as a patient. Although various health insurances pay most of the bills for the majority of patients, even the deductibles and co-pays can be burdensome. Unfortunately, that is the way our health care system currently works.
“Arkansas Cancer Clinic is closing its practice after over 29 years of dedicated service to the community. The clinic has decided to forego all balances owed to the clinic by its patients. Happy Holidays,” he continued.
- Since retiring, Doctor Omar Atiq hopes to add policy-maker to his resume. He now has plans to assist with local legislation to address medical bills for patients.
We hope to see Doctor Atiq make strides in medical legislation and extend his compassion to all of Arkansas.
