JJ hospital crisis: Patients return without medicines as stocks run low

Tanvir Shabbir Shaikh had come all the way from Govandi but only got one of the five

AMID complaints by OPD patients that Sir JJ Hospital has run out of several medicines, a hospital official said they sent their requirement to the DMER in September 2021 and are still awaiting fresh stock. Another hospital official said the delay in distribution could be due to the Covid-19 third wave which put extra pressure on DMER and Haffkine, which procures all Covid and non-Covid medicines for the entire state.

Every day around 4,000 patients visit the out-patient department at the hospital and hundreds get admitted. Most of these patients come from economically weaker backgrounds, with many not having enough money to buy medicines from outside and depend on hospitals for the same. When mid-day visited the hospital, it found that even common medicines like paracetamol, Azithromycin, Cetirizine, doxycycline, and diclofenac sodium are also not in stock.

Sir JJ Hospital has also run out of several intravenous medicines, such as oxytocin

A hospital source said there is a list of 40 medicines that are supposed to be given to patients for free, but only 15-20 are in stock. He added that the hospital administration has also run out of several intravenous medicines, such as oxytocin which is required during delivery and hence is required in large numbers. "The hospital is purchasing some of it and we are also asking donors to donate through CSR. We have also informed senior authorities about the scarcity of medicines," he said.

Dr Ranjeet Mankeshwar, dean of the hospital, said, "There is no delay on our part. We have sent our requirement to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) in September 2021, from there it goes to Haffkine which procures and supplies stock to all medical colleges in the state. The process for procurement is on."

An official from the health department on the condition of anonymity said, "There might be delay due to Covid-19 third wave in which many employees were infected. Another reason might be the added load on Haffkine as they have to purchase both Covid and non-Covid medicines and other related products for the whole state."

Sir JJ Hospital administration has already sent its requirement to the DMER and is awaiting new stock

Patient Speak

"I came to the OPD at Sir JJ Hospital as I have been suffering from cold, fever and sore throat for the past five days. The doctor prescribed five medicines, but the hospital only had one of them," said Govandi resident Tanvir Shabbir Shaikh, 18. Other patients also complained of the same, as the hospitalis running out of medicines, which is leading to rifts between patients and staffers.

He said, "I came here from Govandi because I don't have the money to buy the medicines from outside, but what's the use?" Wadala resident Saeeda Khan, 48, said, "I have a toothache. I came to JJ hospital as I cannot afford a private hospital. But the hospital did not have the prescribed medicines. How is such a big hospital not able to provide basic medicine?"

Row in assembly

The issue was also raised in the ongoing assembly on Friday when a member raised a question about it along with a prescription given by a doctor. Replying to it, Minister Amit Deshmukh said that the doctor would be suspended immediately.

Saeeda Khan

However, this has drawn ire from doctors. A doctor from JJ hospital said, "If the hospital does not have the medicine in stock, what can doctors do? Our job is to prescribe medicine and the administration is responsible for providing medicines." The Indian Medical Association has also written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey to convey their displeasure. mid-day's attempts to contact Dr Dilip Mhaiskar, director of DMER, went unanswered.

Sept 2021
Month the hospital sent its requirement to DMER

40
No. of medicines to be given to patients for free