Medical student diagnosed with TB at Nair hospital

“The seventh floor which houses the medical ward is always dirty. It is almost impossible for us to work there,” a nurse said.

Following the death of 24-year-old medical intern Dr Samidha Khandare earlier this year,Sion Hospital started providing high-protein diet to their medical staff. Other civic hospitals followed suit.

Nair Hospital provides free breakfast to resident doctors,but not to nurses. A nurse from the hospital said she did not get protein-rich diet. “Earlier,we used to get bananas and eggs at night. But that was stopped few years ago. Now,we get only tea in morning and evening.” A resident doctor who avails of the free breakfast said,“The facility for proper breakfast started recently this month.”

Nair Hospital dean Dr R N Bharmal said the hospital prepares a proper menu for breakfast,which includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and has protein-rich content. “The girl who was diagnosed with TB had low nutritional value. Several doctors and nurses who contract TB come from remote areas,where nutrition is not considered important. They contracted TB due to low immunity,” he said.

Trishila Kamble,secretary of staff union of BMC hospitals,claimed shortage of cleaning staff has resulted in untidy corridors and unhygienic conditions. “Many posts are vacant at Nair and several other BMC hospitals,” she said.

According to data obtained under Right To Information Act,Nair hospital has a sanctioned strength of 774 nursing staff,215 medical and 351 para-medical staff. The hospital has 1,410 posts for labourers including cleaners,sweepers,ward boys and lift men. But nurses said vacancies were high and every section faced a ‘labour-crunch’. “We have requested authorities to provide a protein-rich diet to the nursing and labour staff as well,” Kamble said.

Manish Girgaon,president of Medical Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) at Nair Hospital,said,“There have been a few cases of RMOs contracting TB during long working hours. We will meet the dean to discuss the issue again.” Crowded hostel rooms are also responsible for poor living standards,he said. “Four people share a room meant for two,” he said.

tabassum.barnagarwala@expressindia.com