Staff crunch,water shortage,hospital in appalling state

There is a daily OPD of 125 patients and at least ten patients are admitted every day to the hospital.

Barely a month ago,health department officials had conducted a series of inspections following complaints like faulty drainage pipelines,unhygienic living conditions and unfilled vacant posts at the Regional Mental Hospital,Yerawada. A state report had also raised the issue of alleged nexus between agents and staff who charged money from relatives to admit a patient.

A proposal of Rs 3 crore to replace the 100-year-old drainage system has been approved, Dr Vilas Bhailume,medical superintendent of hospital said. He said work will start soon at the hospital. The hospital administration has submitted several proposals to increase the staff strength and specially post a security officer at the medico legal ward. We have submitted a proposal for 49 CCTVs and identified locations for setting it up, Bhailume said.

Dr Madhumita Bahale,senior psychiatrist admitted that there was a shortage of Class IV workers and at least 40 posts are vacant. Presently there are 40 doctors and medical officers apart from Class III and IV staff of 350.

The state inspection report had submitted that unhygienic conditions prevailed in a majority of the wards. Wards have not been swept and lack of water due to the faulty drainage system had led some of the inmates to tear some of their clothes to wipe.

There are 10 wards for the male inmates and 7 for women. Wards are spread out across the large campus and most of the buildings are old. According to the authorities,there is a daily OPD of 125 patients and at least ten patients are admitted every day to the hospital.

Voluntary admissions vis-a-vis admission of a patient through a court are allowed from the human rights point of view as the rights of the patient are safeguarded.

However in their report,the committee members raised the issue of a rise in the number of voluntary admissions and alleged a nexus between agents and some staff who took large amounts from patients relatives for admission.

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Dr Sanjay Kumawat,former deputy director of mental health,but was part of the committee inspecting the hospital,said that it was a serious and shocking lapse by the administration of mental hospital that has led to the death of two inmates who were recently admitted to the institution.

There are specific protocols laid down on how to handle aggressive mentally-ill patients who can turn violent, Kumawat said. I cannot digest the fact that this incident has occurred, Kumawat said.

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