Chennai: Patient attendants and their relatives, who come from various parts of the state to government hospitals in the city, will now have a place to stay during the course of their patients’ treatment.The Chennai corporation has drawn up a blueprint for building shelters inside hospital premises to facilitate the stay of relatives and attendants.“The plan is at a preliminary stage and the number of shelters has not yet been decided,” said a corporation official adding that the proposal came from the state department of health.
Based on its request, the corporation will construct shelters in hospitals across the city in a phased manner. Each shelter will accommodate 20 to 30 people based on the size of the hospital, with toilets for men and women.The project will be funded by Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) through the department of health. It is expected to be completed in about six months.
The city receives thousands of patients and their relatives from outside Chennai, who at the end of the day are forced to find a place to stay. It is a common sight to see patient’s relatives hang within hospital premises and on pavements outside. “People of poor economic background are the ones visiting government hospitals. It is very difficult for us to spend on accommodation in the city,” said K. Muthulakshmi from Kaniyambadi near Vellore. She came with her husband for a post renal transplantation check up.
“Though the treatment is free, we spend for medicines and tests. Additionally, we incur expenses of about Rs 2.5 lakh for food, accommodation and travel during the treatment period of more than nine months,” she said.She also recalled many instances in the department of nephrology at theRajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), where patients returned home without being able to meet out their expenses in the city. Shelters at the hospital will help patients and their relatively greatly, she said.
“I have been staying here for the past two days waiting for my scan reports. The doctor will decide whether I should be admitted or not, based on the report. Until then, I have no other place to stay than to spend nights in the shed here,” said a 45-year-old man from Gummidipundi waiting at the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital. “This sometimes encourages brokers and middle men, who help patients to get the tests and results soon,” he said.
He was referred to the city hospital by the government hospital in Gummidipundi, after treating him there for his stomach problem for two weeks.“We do not allow them to stay inside the premises at nights. But sometimes, we allow them with a request to not make the place untidy,” says a security guard at a city hospital. RGGGH has provided shelters and facilities such as public toilets, bathrooms and RO plants for drinking water, said Dean Dr R. Vimala. “The space near Amma canteen has been identified for the new night shelter,” she said.
