Bhopal station ‘ramp’ collapse : Against norms, victims taken to 18-km away private hospital

BHOPAL: Facilities at government-run Hamidia hospital were disregarded as injured victims of Bhopal station ‘ramp’ collapse were taken to a private hospital instead, here on Thursday. Two patients who were treated at Hamidia hospital, were also shifted to a private hospital by 2 pm, confirmed Hamidia hospital superintendent Dr AK Chourasia. CT scan and other live saving measures were conducted at the government hospital.
Railway officials told the relatives of the injured that they have a tie-up with a private hospital.The same agreement is not with the government-run hospital. As per Indian railway medical manual, 2000 amended in 2006 determines that ‘injured should be sent to railway or government hospital’.
Soon after the accident, seven of the injured were rushed to a 60-bed divisional ‘Model’ railway hospital just 2.2 kms away from the spot, and it hardly takes 9 minutes to reach there. But the ‘Model’ railway hospital, in turn, referred the patients, after primary treatment, to a private hospital which is 18 kms. Sources say that the railway hospital was not equipped to handle the patients as it does not have a surgeon, no ventilator and in casualty care, there is only one orthopaedic.
Going by West Central Railway annual report, medical facilities available at the divisional hospital include ‘Indoor Services along with ICU and Casualty’. Medical services officials of the railway hospital Dr Asha Chamania and Dr Ajita Tausane did not respond to repeated calls and SMSes.
In fact the patients were treated at private medical hospital 18 km away whereas in the zonal disaster management plan, the private hospital is listed 8 km away, which is near Hamidia Hospital.
Questions over lack of medical staff and outsourcing have been raised against the railway hospital in the past too. Indian Railways Disaster Management Plan of September, 2018 calls for ‘specialised training initially to a few select doctors in each Divisional Hospital (and the Zonal Hospitals) to support Incident Response Team (IRT).
Bhopal railway division PRO, IA Siddique said injured were taken to the private hospital as it has better facilities. “We wanted to admit victims in a hospital equipped with best facilities,” said Siddique.