Literally overnight, terminal patients who previously had a real chance to stay alive went from hope to despair, consigned to resort to television pitches on news interview programs in an effort to inspire strangers to send in money to fund their life-saving surgeries.

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Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair, with newfound support from the Federal Government.

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Dr Subhadra Menon is Head, Communication, The Public Health Foundation of India and author of No Place to Go: Stories of Hope and Despair from India's Ailing Health Sector, published by Penguin Books.

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