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An oncologist wiped away the debt of nearly 200 of his patients who are battling cancer as he permanently closed his clinic in Arkansas, USA.
Dr. Omar Atiq informed his patients through holiday cards he sent on Dec. 28, as per NBC-affiliate KARK on Dec. 30.
鈥淎lthough various health insurances pay most of the bills for majority of patients, even the deductibles and co-pays can be burdensome,鈥� he said in the note. 鈥淯nfortunately, that is the way our health care system currently works.鈥�
Atiq then explained that his clinic, the Arkansas Cancer Institute, is shutting down after 29 years of service. According to the report, Atiq had to close its doors due to staffing shortages amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the loss, Atiq told his patients, 鈥淭he clinic has decided to forego all balances owed to the clinic by its patients. Happy Holidays.鈥�
The remaining bills amounted to around $650,000. Atiq worked with a billing company to forego the debt and ensure that none of his patients would have to face any consequences in the future.
When speaking about his decision, Atiq stressed that 鈥渂eing sick is hard, having cancer is harder, and having cancer in this pandemic is devastating.鈥�
鈥淚 am just a regular physician鈥� a regular person that they have in the neighborhood鈥� just so happens to be me standing here,鈥� he told the news outlet. 鈥淭he ones struggling couldn鈥檛 pay, so we thought we could just write off the debt.鈥�
鈥淚 love them, I care for them,鈥� he added, 鈥渁nd I am glad I was able to do a little bit at this point for them.鈥� Ryan Arcadio聽/ra
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