Hospital
to hold counselling sessions for its staff as 10 members, including doctors,
nurses and lab technicians, threaten to quit
Barely two weeks after it was revealed that
the most dangerous strain of the tuberculosis (TB) bacteria has found its way
into Mumbai, Asia's largest TB hospital in Sewri is battling another problem:
worried about contracting the virus, several staff members are threatening to quit
if not transferred from the hospital at the earliest.
The doctors say constant exposure to TB
patients – many of whom are drug-resistant – has created a massive scare. Two
of the doctors, diagnosed with TB, are being treated by private hospitals, while
17 other paramedics at the facility have also tested positive.
A hospital source said, "The two resident
doctors' TB positive report set the cat among the pigeons. It is obvious that
there is no way out; we come in contact with TB patients up to 10 hours a day.
Just how much precaution can one take? There is a feeling of inevitability
among us, that sooner or later, we are bound to be affected by the
disease." There are 850 patients undergoing treatment at the 1,000-bed
hospital, of which 42 have been identified as multi-drug resistant cases; while
one is an extra extensively drug resistant (XXDR) case. The strength of staff
attending to them is abysmal; one doctor for 150 patients when an acceptable
number would be 20.
Despite this, at least eight staffers –
including resident doctors – have approached the civic authorities seeking
transfers, and at least two doctors have gone on leave while their applications
are pending. Both are pregnant. One, who is already on maternity leave, has
said she will not return for the time being, while the second has now applied
for leave.
Doctors say they are confused, helpless. A
resident doctor said, "All these years, we had been taking precautions
against TB, or multi-drug resistant strains at the most. But this totally drug
resistant strain, which the State calls XXDR… how do we protect ourselves
against that? It's time the authorities think about us too."
The embattled civic body, already struggling
to recruit staff for the TB hospital, is now doing all it takes to raise the
morale. It has initiated training, education and counselling sessions to begin
with. On Monday, staff from across TB departments in civic hospitals, including
the Sewri hospital, have been lined up for a counselling session.
Indeed, the helplessness that arises out of
lack of treatment options has steadily depleted the hospital, which was forced
to stop major surgeries. The last major operation at the hospital was performed
in 2006. The old hands have retired, and cardiovascular thoracic surgeons are
opting for private hospitals.
Recently, the authorities selected 12 out of
20 doctors interviewed; not one has joined the hospital. There are 54 posts for
nurses lying vacant (out of 225), and of 658 posts for Class IV workers (ward
boys, etc), 127 are yet to be filled up. At the root of the problem, however,
is the hazard of working there, a source said. A resident doctor said,
"Most patients – and we cater to almost 1,000 patients – come here at a
very advanced stage of the disease. We have families too, and for their sake, I
will quit if I don't get a transfer."
While the hospital authorities refused to
comment saying there was a gag order from the civic authorities, BMC officials
put up a brave front. Dr Anil Bandiwadekar, BMC's executive health officer,
said, "We have started counselling doctors and medical staff who are
exposed to TB patients. We have told them that there is nothing to worry about.
As far as the Sewri hospital is concerned, nobody has given anything in
writing, saying he/she wants a transfer."
Lata Mishra
Mumbai Mirror
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