Mumba

Fewer admissions, OPD patients at govt. hospitals

Closed for operations: The OT complex at JJ Hospital is closed on Tuesday.

Closed for operations: The OT complex at JJ Hospital is closed on Tuesday.   | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

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Surgeries moved forward for duration of stir

Nearly 200 surgeries were put on hold in the four State-run hospitals in Mumbai, and about 1,000 surgeries were postponed across Maharashtra, after Class III and IV employees went on strike on Tuesday.

Government officials said they had been intimated of the three-day strike about a fortnight ago. As a result, they were able to plan surgeries accordingly. The strike, however, affected the outpatient departments (OPDs) and admissions.

According to Dr. Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent of JJ Hospital, Mumbai’s biggest State-run hospital, the OPD numbers fell by half, and there were very few admissions as compared to regular days. “We had an OPD of 2,904 patients on Tuesday, while the number goes up to 4,500 on other days. We admitted only 42 patients as compared to 150 to 200 admissions on an average every day, and we carried out 26 surgical procedures as against the usual 80 to 100,” Dr. Surase said.

He said food for patients was arranged from the canteen and all 200 medical students and 240 nursing students were on duty.

“We had also arranged for temporary cleaners to sweep and clean the premises,” he said.

The other State-run hospitals — GT, Cama and St George’s — also admitted less than half of its usual number of patients, and only carried out emergency services.

At Cama Hospital, two deliveries were carried out, including one caesarean, and only nine new patients were admitted. A 35-year-old from Byculla, who delivered a baby 10 days ago at the hospital, said the bed covers were not changed and the patients did not receive fresh hospital gowns either. “Some people told us we may not get food due to the strike, so I arranged for food from home,” she said. An eight-month pregnant woman from Bhiwandi had to eat food from outside due to the uncertainty. But medical superintendent Dr. Rajashri Katke said she ensured that food was distributed to all patients.

Doctors at St. George’s Hospital did not operate on any patients, while one surgery was carried out at GT Hospital.

The strike is likely to continue beyond three days if the State does not agree to the employees’ demands.