The Hindu       07.04.2017 

Civic body creates 816 posts of doctors in peripheral hospitals

Expected to take patient load from KEM, Sion and Nair

The BMC, in an attempt to boost civic health system, has created 816
posts of doctors at 16 peripheral hospitals in the city. These
secondary-level hospitals have large buildings, but lack infrastructure
and doctors. They will now be able to take the load of patients from the
three main tertiary hospitals — KEM, Sion and Nair.

“All our
peripheral hospitals are in prime locations, which are accessible for
locals. We are now looking at using them to optimum level by improvising
several aspects. To begin with, budgetary allocations have been made
for hiring 816 doctors,” said BMC’s additional municipal commissioner
Idzes Kundan, adding that the posts include those of postgraduate
resident doctors, assistant medical officers, registrars, house
officers, and teaching staff. “We are in the process of rolling out
diploma courses in the peripheral hospitals. With the courses, we will
automatically get resident doctors at work while they are pursuing the
course.”

According to Ms. Kundan, several OPDs like ophthalmology,
geriatrics and general medicine will be strengthened in the peripheral
hospitals so that patients don’t have to come to the tertiary hospitals.
“We are also looking at enhancing the infrastructure at the
secondary-level hospitals.”

The civic body has a three-tier system
to cater to the health needs of citizens. It has over 160 dispensaries
at primary level, 16 peripheral hospitals at secondary level, and three
main tertiary hospitals.

But
lack of facilities in peripheral hospitals like Cooper in Vile Parle,
Shatabdi in Kandivali, VN Desai in Santacruz, and Bhagwati in Borivali,
which is currently shut for renovation, puts all the load on the three
tertiary hospitals.

Activists have reiterated that the secondary
level hospitals are a failure and because of this private nursing homes
and small hospitals have mushroomed. Also, the decentralisation does not
exist due to which patients who can be treated at the primary level
land up in tertiary hospitals. The 1,800-bed KEM Hospital admitted
86,290 patients and treated over 19 lakh patients in OPD in 2016. The
1,750-bed Sion Hospital admitted 81,862 patients and treated over 22
lakh people in OPD.

“A large number of these
patients come from distant suburbs,” said Dr. Avinash Supe, Dean of KEM
Hospital, adding that all specialists in the peripheral hospitals are
honorary doctors. “We are planning to set up proper units for various
specialities just like the way we have in the tertiary hospitals.”