Surat lags in super-speciality hospitals

Sudhakar Rao / TNN / Dec 19, 2005, 21:43 IST

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If you think the only time Surtis visit Mumbai is to make some business deals or to have fun, then you are mistaken.

Surat lags in super-speciality hospitals

SURAT: If you think the only time Surtis visit Mumbai is to make some business deals or to have fun, then you are mistaken.
Many also fly to the commercial capital of the country for want of adequate medical treatment.
Surat has seen tremendous growth in terms of population and infrastructure development, but sparse medical services here have not kept pace with it.
Doctors here claim that the lacuna is particularly in some specialised areas,where people still prefer doctors of Mumbai for treatment.

This, even when there are eight major hospitals including Mahavir Hospital, Mission Hospital and Surat General Hospital, among others.
Specialised areas such as kidney transplant and cardiac-related surgeries are still a worrisome area for the medical fraternity here.
For a person affected with advanced stage cancer, there is no treatment available here.
"There is no therapy available as far as advanced cancer is concerned and patients still visit Mumbai for treatment," says private practitioner Yogesh Desai.

On the other hand, for people suffering from severe psychological problems, a psycho surgery is a latest operation, for which the infrastructure exists only in Mumbai. There are only two instruments available in the country, which cost Rs 80 lakh each and both are in Mumbai.
"It has also become a perception that chances of recovery in Mumbai are more than in Surat, due to better availability of infrastructure and resources available there, says Ashok Desai, a city-based cardiologist.
Certain sections of people also believe it to be a status symbol, while some get mental satisfaction by gaining medical attention in Mumbai, say doctors here.
There have been instances when patients lose trust in the treatment from local doctors, when their diseases are not cured for far too long a period.
They want them to be examined by doctors from Mumbai, says psychologist Mukul Chokshi.
In fact, psychiatrist Nilesh Shah of Sayan Hospital in Mumbai, visits Surat once every three months to check up patients suffering from psychological problems.
At the same time, even the cost of medical treatment here is comparable to Mumbai. For instance a bypass operation in Surat costs anywhere around Rs 1 lakh, while in Mumbai it is around 1.20 lakh.
When the difference is not much, people opt for treatment in Mumbai than in Surat, says city-based doctor Mahesh Rajput.
According to Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) president Dilip Chashmawala, the situation could turn around, if medical consultants from across the globe are called to Surat.
"A regular interaction with foreign consultants and their helping hands, will certainly enhance people's faith in the local medical treatment," adds Chashmawala.

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