Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : October 14, 2014 1:03 PM IST
Mohammad Hanif, a 40-year-old man from South Mumbai diagnosed with dengue fever was taken to four major hospitals in the city only to be declined admission by each of them. His wife, Sabina, was told that all the hospital beds and medical facilities were occupied by dengue patients and that her husband's name would appear in the waiting list. After spending around 8 hours wandering from one best-known hospital to other, they finally decided to undergo treatment at their house.
Investigations carried out by the Times of India paper revealed that other than the top four hospitals in South Mumbai (Saifee Hospital at Marine Lines, Noor Hospital in Byculla, Bhatia Hospital in Tardeo and Sabu Siddiqi on JJ Marg) which refused admission by the Hanifs, none of the other medical institutions had room for patients suffering from dengue. In addition to this, healthcare professionals at Breach Candy Hospital, Jaslok Hospital and Cumballa Hill Hospital said the hospitals has no space for any dengue patients. (Read: Prevent dengue with these 10 practical tips)
According to a general physician at a renowned Hospital in South Mumbai, major medical institutions have treated more than 400 patients suffering from dengue for the last one month. Furthermore, Dr Mangala Gomare, head of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation's epidemiology cell, said that 487 patients suffering from dengue were on treatment at Government and BMC hospitals in Mumbai, whereas five people have died due to the disease in the last three months.
A doctor at Jaslok hospital, Pedder road said, 'Currently, there are 15 dengue patients receiving treatment in our hospital.' An administration officer at the Jaslok hospital said, 'We have no choice but to restrict admission of the patients unless the case is serious. Hence, we have asked our experts to admit only those who need to be hospitalized. Whereas other patients can be treated in the OPD (Out Patient Department). (Read: Dengue fever diagnosis factors, tests and cost)
Dr. Pratit Samdani, a consultant physician at some of the major South Mumbai hospitals said that the hospitals (Saifee, Bhatia, Cumballa Hill and Jaslok) are packed with dengue patients, while incoming patients are kept on waitlist. He further said, 'I have requested that people requiring urgent medical attention be admitted to the hospitals. Whereas, people responding positively to drugs and has platelet count within controllable limits can be put on antibiotic course, advising them to take rest.'
Sabina told that her husband's platelet count are currently within manageable limit and there isn't any reason of concern as of now. Doctors treating Mohammad Hanif said, 'But with the kind of disease dengue is, you may never know what will happen next. We may never know when the patient's platelet levels will drop resulting into internal bleeding.' Dengue is a tropical disease caused by Aedes mosquito infected with the virus. It is characterized by flu-like symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, muscle joints, severe headache, skin rash and pain behind the eyes. Here is what you should know about dengue.
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