Poor patients have no MSWs’ help at Pune’s top hospitals
Premier city hospitals ignore the Joint Charity Commissioner’s order to appoint medical social workers round the clock
The premier charity hospitals in the city are violating the orders of the Pune Joint Charity Commissioner, regarding the appointment of social medical workers in their respective hospitals round the clock. The order passed one and a half months ago is not being followed by hospitals, since Medical Social Workers (MSWs) work during the day and not at night. The absence of MSWs at hospitals in the night has resulted in the hospital administrations refusing admissions to poor patients, or they being asked to deposit the required advance amount before admission. Poor patients in need of emergency care are being exploited. This has come to light when TGS visited seven prominent hospitals in the evening and at night. Some hospitals have put up notices stating that MSWs’ official timings are from 10 am to 5 pm.
MSW verify poor patients’ documents and help them avail of treatment at hospitals at concessional rates, or free of cost. MSWs are present at the hospitals between 10 am and 5 pm. But for patients in need of emergency admissions in the evening or at night, the MSWs are not available.
Taking serious note of the situation, newly appointed Joint Charity Commissioner (Pune region) Shivaji Kachare had directed all 59 charity hospitals in Pune district to appoint MSWs for round-the-clock assistance. The order was given at a review meeting held to discuss free medical treatment to indigent and economic weaker section patients under the government scheme, at Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital in Thergaon, on June 30.
One and a half months later, the order from the charity commissionerate seems to have fallen on deaf ears. TGS found that the order is ignored and MSWs working from 9–10 am to 5–6 pm.
On August 10, TGS visited four hospitals between 11 pm and midnight, but not a single MSW was found at these hospitals. The Deccan Sahyadri Hospital security guards did not allow us to enter the hospital. When we asked to visit the MSW, they said that the office was closed since 6 pm.
Sancheti Hospital in Shivajinagar was no different. The hospital receptionist asked us if we had any medical insurance. When we said no, he said that any patient being admitted at night must pay a deposit amount before admission. “You have to deposit Rs 20,000 for general ward, and Rs 30,000 for semi luxury ward. If urgent surgery was needed, 80 per cent of the total amount for the surgery should be deposited before surgery,” he said.
At Jehangir Hospital on Sassoon Road, the two staffers at the admission counter said that there were no MSWs available. We said that we had a patient suffering from chest pain who needed urgent admission, who had a low income certificate and was eligible for 50 per cent concession. “If you have to admit the patient, you have to pay Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 as per the ward charge. If surgery is needed, 100 per cent of the amount should be paid before surgery,” they said. When we said we had a low income certificate, they said, “Then you come in the morning and meet the MSW. They will check availability of the bed and advise you whether to admit the patient or not. But we can’t admit these types of patients right now” they said.
Navanath Jagtap, Assistant Charity Commissioner, confirmed the situation and said that they will seek action against such hospitals. “We know that hospitals are not following the order but they accept patients and ask to submit reports next morning. We will take a review meeting and issue notices to all hospitals,” said Jagtap.
About the charity commissioner’s order Dr Pervez Grant, managing trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic, said, “We don’t have money to pay night duty MSWs. If the charity office wants to appoint night MSWs, why don’t they pay their salaries?”
Ratna Memorial Hospital
At Ratna Memorial Hospital on SB Road, a pharmacist and cashier were present. The cashier said that all the MSWs had left at 5 pm. If any poor patients had to be admitted, it could be done in the morning.
Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital
It was the same situation at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Erandawane, that we visited on August 9 at 6:30 pm. A staff nurse said that the MSW’s official timing was from 10 am till 5 pm. Asked about the emergency poor patients, she said that patients are admitted but the necessary documents could be submitted in the morning.
Ruby Hall Clinic
TGS visited Ruby Hall Clinic on August 4 at 5:30 pm. The social workers’ cabin was locked. Sanjay Kalokhe was waiting for admission for his relative Vishal Pardeshi .
“I was asked to write an application by MSW to admit my patient. While I was writing the application, the MSW left, locking up the cabin and leaving my patient in the casualty section,” said Kalokhe. After waiting for many hours, Pardeshi was admitted to cardiac ICU unit the next day at 12 pm.
Poona Hospital
TGS visited Poona Hospital in Sadashiv Peth on August 9 at around 6 pm, and found the MSW office locked. The hospital receptionist said that the MSW’s official timing was from 10 am to 5 pm.
dnyaneshwar.bhonde@ goldensparrow.com
Originally published on The Golden Sparrow
