Dipannita Das and Soumya Menon
Newindpress

Bangalore, Jan 14:  Thirty-five-year-old Faqruddin was injured in an accident and was brought to Bowring Hospital.

A ventilator was essential to save his life. But Bowring Hospital had none and Faqruddin had to be taken to Victoria Hospital.

Faqruddin was not lucky as all the five ventilators there were occupied and, therefore, he was not admitted.

Only after the Lokayukta’s intervention did the hospital admit him and put him on a ventilator.

The Lokayukta, who came to know about the family’s plight, directed the hospital authorities to do the needful without wasting time.

The family was worried as the “golden hour” was ticking by for Faqruddin, while it took over an hour to get the required medical assistance. But, all are not as lucky as Faqruddin.

A few days ago, a 45-year-old heart patient, Venkataramana, was taken to KC General Hospital, as he suffered from breathlessness at 4 am.

The hospital authorities refused to admit him as it they did not have a ventilator. The family contacted the Lokayukta. But before he could intervene, the victim passed away.

“He was to be taken in an ambulance to Victoria Hospital, but he did not survive till then,” said Upalokayukta Patri Basavanagouda.

While the poor cannot afford treatment at private hospitals, the government seems to be insensitive to their plight.

The KC General Hospital, Bowring Hospital and the Lady Curzon Hospital lack basic facilities, including ventilators, in emergencies.

About 1,200 patients visit Bowring Hospital everyday, but it doesn’t have even an ICU.

Dr Rajiv Shetty, Superintendent of Bowring Hospital, said the hospital would acquire ventilators. However, he denied to comment on the absence of them.

Leave alone ventilator, the hospital doesn’t have a generator. The hospital plunges into darkness whenever there is power failure. A duty doctor says it gets tough when power fails during surgery.

The other hospitals have ventilators but fewer than needed. Even they seldom work. In the Victoria Hospital, the five ventilators are always occupied. So in many cases, they refuse to admit patients requiring this facility.

Superintendent Dr Nanjundappa said out of 10 ventilators, five to six are always in service. In case of emergency, there is need for more ventilators.

“We have to gear up for some more. There is a proposal from the government to increase the infrastructural facilities in ICUs in government hospitals,” he said.

Vani Vilas Children’s Hospital sees 20 patients on an average everyday and out of this about six are emergency cases. Superintendent ML Siddaraju said that there is always need for ventilators.

“There are eight ventilators in the hospital. We are in the process of acquiring a few more ventilators in 2-3 months,” he said.

‘Ventilators soon’

Upalokayukta Patri Basavagouda said the Bowring Hospital should get 10 ventilators in the next couple of months, while another five be added to the Victoria Hospital.

He said the Lokayukta would hold a meeting of heads of all government hospitals to find a solution.