Where care can cause trouble
29 May 2013 5:42 AM IST
An RTI copy in possession of Millennium Post has revealed several shocking truths about the Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital (KSCH) in the city, that will force you to think twice before admitting your child at the hospital if he or she has a health issue.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated in the RTI that the hygienic condition in KSCH is not satisfactory. An official of NHRC said, 'The unhygienic condition in the hospital premises poses health risks for both patients and doctors. The issue must be sorted out at priority basis.'
According to the RTI, 'The hospital is also not fitted with water filters or RO units and water supplied by a bore-well is directly used for drinking and other purposes.’
It was found that in August 2012 , 60 per cent of children’s deaths at the hospital took place either due to respiratory failure or septicemia.
'Lack of sufficient number of functioning vents and unhygienic conditions in the hospital may be a factor in such cases,' says the RTI said.
The RTI adds, 'During the 10th Five Year Plan, an outlay of Rs. 140 crore was made regarding the construction of the National Institute of Pediatrics at KSCH. However, it is not known as to what came out of the proposal.'
The hospital has a total of 23 ventilators, of which 10 are non-functional.
Interestingly, nine out of 11 ventilators installed at sensitive wards such as the neo-natal ward, paedia-curgical ward and paedia-ICU, are dysfunctional.
Apart from the dysfunctional ventilators, there is shortage of beds in KSCH and it was found that more than one patient was accommodated on a single bed. The RTI also claims, ‘The patient load exceeds the capacity of the hospital.'
No proper space is available for the patient's attendants. There may be sufficient doctors available, but there is shortage of nursing and cleaning staff.
The NHRC team also noticed that supply of medicines to the wards is not proper, which forces the attendants to purchase medicines from the market.
In the past five years (2008-2012), a total number of 1,35,208 children were admitted in KSCH out of which 10,500 children have died. In 2013, 600 children have lost their lives at the hospital till May.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated in the RTI that the hygienic condition in KSCH is not satisfactory. An official of NHRC said, 'The unhygienic condition in the hospital premises poses health risks for both patients and doctors. The issue must be sorted out at priority basis.'
According to the RTI, 'The hospital is also not fitted with water filters or RO units and water supplied by a bore-well is directly used for drinking and other purposes.’
It was found that in August 2012 , 60 per cent of children’s deaths at the hospital took place either due to respiratory failure or septicemia.
'Lack of sufficient number of functioning vents and unhygienic conditions in the hospital may be a factor in such cases,' says the RTI said.
The RTI adds, 'During the 10th Five Year Plan, an outlay of Rs. 140 crore was made regarding the construction of the National Institute of Pediatrics at KSCH. However, it is not known as to what came out of the proposal.'
The hospital has a total of 23 ventilators, of which 10 are non-functional.
Interestingly, nine out of 11 ventilators installed at sensitive wards such as the neo-natal ward, paedia-curgical ward and paedia-ICU, are dysfunctional.
Apart from the dysfunctional ventilators, there is shortage of beds in KSCH and it was found that more than one patient was accommodated on a single bed. The RTI also claims, ‘The patient load exceeds the capacity of the hospital.'
No proper space is available for the patient's attendants. There may be sufficient doctors available, but there is shortage of nursing and cleaning staff.
The NHRC team also noticed that supply of medicines to the wards is not proper, which forces the attendants to purchase medicines from the market.
In the past five years (2008-2012), a total number of 1,35,208 children were admitted in KSCH out of which 10,500 children have died. In 2013, 600 children have lost their lives at the hospital till May.
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