The Hindu : Front Page : A hospital plagued by problems

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 17, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

A hospital plagued by problems

Sahana Charan

Nothing appears to be right at the government-run Vani Vilas Hospital

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Defunct: The hi-tech LCD equipment that was installed at the Vani Vilas Hospital on August 31 is now not working.

Bangalore: A hi-tech system to display information on every child born; an intensive care unit (ICU) to decrease maternal mortality; an emergency ICU in the offing.

If the State Government is to be believed, the Vani Vilas Hospital here seems to have everything that a maternal and child care hospital in the government sector could ask for. But the high rate of neonatal deaths and crumbling infrastructure at the hospital tell a different story.

What greets the patient instead are dirty corridors, unclean labour rooms, unwashed linen and rude staff.

According to official records, at least 30 to 35 babies are born every day at the hospital. What is shocking is that of the total babies born last month, 30 died, while of the around 160 newborn babies referred to Vani Vilas from other hospitals, as many as 38 died. Around 300 premature newborns or those with other complications were admitted to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital in August.

When The Hindu team visited the hospital, only four of the six incubators in the NICU were working and as many as three newborn babies were placed in a single incubator.

According to sources in the hospital, the neonatal death rate had increased considerably in the last one year. In 2006, on an average there were around 10 to 15 neonatal deaths every month, the sources said.

“There is a shortage of nurses even in the NICU. Even though there should be one nurse for two babies, a single nurse is looking after 20 babies,” a staff at the hospital said.

Moreover, the hospital is reeling under a major staff shortage, especially the nursing staff.

Of the 175 sanctioned posts of nurses, at least 20 are vacant. But according to Medical Council of India guidelines, the hospital needs at least 150 more nurses.

Death of newborn babies and staff shortage are not the only problems facing the maternity and childcare hospital.

A few days ago, a hi-tech LCD display system was inaugurated at the hospital with much fanfare.

The system was purported to be a boon to patients, as it would display details of the newborn minutes after birth, including a photograph, time of birth, weight and sex, thus leaving little scope for corruption. Less than two weeks after the launch, the LCD screen outside the labour room is missing and the equipment does not seem to be working.

“The equipment is not working and has not been used after its launch. It seems to be a gimmick by the State Government and must have been launched in a hurry,” a senior doctor at the hospital said.

But Medical Superintendent, Y.S. Siddappa, denied that the newly installed equipment at the hospital was not functioning.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page