Patient pressure prompts Kolkata hospitals to switch on TVs for Messi vs Mbappe final battle

KOLKATA: As Kolkata gets ready to witness the final battle for World Cup glory on Sunday night, there are many under treatment at the city’s hospitals who have been eagerly following Messi’s magic and Mbappe’s march and hope to catch their duel on TV. They include scores of cancer patients admitted for chemotherapy or surgery and are recuperating. But the football fever is something that has kept many of them energized, forcing several hospitals to alter their rules allow them to watch the final that will be played late in the evening.
Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Institute at Thakurpukur, for instance, has allowed all its 150 patients now admitted to watch the match.While around 30% are not in a physical condition to be able to stay up late for the match, the rest will be watching it at their cabins and wards, said director Arnab Gupta. “Football gets everyone excited in Bengal and the World Cup has a universal appeal. Many of our patients have been watching the games since the beginning and these include children. Now, we have 30 children admitted and they will all be watching the final. It is important for cancer patients to remain happy and motivated and the World Cup has helped them,” said Gupta.
Luckily for patients, the match starts at 9.30 pm unlike the semi-finals that were played from 12.30 am IST.
At Ruby General Hospital, too, a bar on watching TV after 8.30 pm has been lifted for the match. “Majority of our patients, including many terminally ill at our cancer centre, will be watching the match. Most are recuperating after surgeries or chemotherapy and remain weak. But the World Cup excitement hasn’t left them untouched. It won’t be fair to stop anyone since the rest of the city will be watching it,” said general manager – operations Subhashish Datta.
At Fortis Hospital, a projector will be used to show the match to patients at a common area. “We have received multiple requests from patients so we will organize a screening under the supervision of doctors and nurses,” said facility director Ashish Mukherjee.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital has allowed interested patients to watch the match. “We have advised them to take a responsible decision, ensure that they remain safe healthy if they watch the match,” said Medica Cancer Hospital director Sourav Datta.
Patients admitted at twin-sharing cabins at Peerless Hospital have requested the authorities to install TV sets at their rooms. The request is being considered, said CEO Sudipta Mitra.
Peerless, like many other hospitals, has subscribed to the broadcasting channel to let patients watch the World Cup matches. “Many have watched the matches right from the start,” said Mitra.
Will that pose a health risk? “Staying up late is not advised to any patient but this match should end by 11.30 pm. Also, critical patients will not be watching it for they are in the ICU.”