Security claims are a blatant lie in Mumbai hospitals

Following the theft of Nerurkar family’s four-day-old baby from Sion hospital in January 2009, the Bombay high court in May last year had laid down a set of 23 guidelines to prevent child thefts from government, semi-government and corporation hospitals. In response, a compliance affidavit was filed in September 2009 on behalf of the peripheral hospitals of the BMC, which said that most of the guidelines were adhered to by its 11 hospitals. But the kidnapping of two-month-old Ayushman Mishra on Friday from VN Desai Hospital has again brought the issue of child theft to the forefront. To find out the ground reality, DNA reporters visited nine of the 11 hospitals, and were surprised to discover that some of the claims made in the affidavit were blatant lies.

VN Desai Hospital, Santa Cruz
This hospital, from where a two-month-old baby was kidnapped last week, lacks many basic facilities, such as a public address system (PAS). It uses a tape recorder as a substitute for PAS. It plays all important messages recorded in Marathi and it is taken around from one ward to another by a hospital staff. So, if someone misses the first round of announcement in a particular ward, he may have to hop to another ward to listen to it. Medical superintendent Shashikant Wadekar said, “Our demand for an advanced public announcement system is in the process of being fulfilled.”

KB Bhabha Hospital, Bandra (West)
The postnatal, neonatal and the pediatric wards were closed with shutters with a BMC security guard manning the wards. About 40 guards work here in three shifts. But the labour ward did not have a guard. The biometric identification system of the mother and the baby has been installed in the postnatal and neo-natal ward last year. The security guards on this ward carry a walkie-talkie with them.

KB Bhabha Hospital, Kurla (West)
The DNA reporter did not spot any guards outside the maternity ward. There were some family members sitting in groups and entering and exiting the ward, completely ignoring the instructions: “No admission without permission”. The reporter not only strolled through the ward, but also very comfortably stood right outside the gate to click a picture. However, this was the only hospital where an LCD TV is installed in the OPD. Rest of the remedial measures, authorities said, are “in the process” of falling in place.

Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar
This hospital is a perfect example of BMC’s concern with security issues. The labour ward had an iron grill with a security guard manning the gate. The nurses were around, keeping a hawk eye on people in and around the ward. As this reporter tried entering the ward, the security guard started inquiring and said, “Only one relative is allowed. Please name the patient and we will ask the relative to come and meet you outside.” The hospital also had CCTVs at strategic locations. However, biometric identification of the infants is still to be installed.

Centenary Hospital, Govandi
While most hospitals tried to cover up the loopholes in their security arrangements, the DNA reporter met some staff members at this Hospital who said they should also have security as high as that in private ones. Surely, they must be given some more security so that when one guard is busy dealing with patients, intruders do not find a way inside the ward like this reporter did. A lady guard at the entrance of the maternity ward was busy talking to patients and she did not notice this reporter walk in and out of the ward.

Sant Muktabai Hospital, Ghatkopar
In this hospital, some three wards are operating from one because the renovation work has been going on. The reporter found the security here as lax as that in other hospitals. In fact, the hospital is completely left to God’s mercy as far as the safety of patients is concerned. There is no one to question even if you walk in and out of a ward several times. However, this was the only hospital where the reporter actually spotted a female guard stopping and questioning a woman moving out with a newborn to know whether she had been discharged.

Veer Savarkar Hospital, Mulund (East)
When this reporter entered the hospital, there was no security guard at the entrance. There was no one to check the credentials of a new visitor in the labour ward either. This reporter easily sneaked into the labour ward twice. Though the labour ward had iron grill, and a CCTV camera at the entrance, the grill was wide open. “The security guard had gone for lunch at that time. We do not have enough security guards,” said a senior official. However, the entrance of the labour ward had an instruction for patients: Do not hand over your babies to unknown people.

MW Desai Municipal Hospital, Malad (East)
The entire hospital is manned by only two municipal guards (a man and a woman), who work in two eight-hour shifts. When this reporter tried to enter the postnatal and neonatal ward, she was stopped by two nurses. The pediatric ward had no security officers. An official of the hospital said they have sought security officers. The hospital does have over 10 CCTV cameras, but it is manned by the same security guard who is present in the hospital at a given point of time. The hospital does have a public address system.

Bhagwati Hospital, Borivli (West)
In this hospital, one can stroll in the pediatric ward without anyone stopping you. However, one female guard, who sits outside the post-natal ward, said she stops visitors who were not related to patients. Also, she said that whenever a baby is taken out, she checks the discharge papers. Deputy medical superintendent Dr Vijaya Bhatt agreed there was a shortage of guards in the ward and that they had asked the BMC to give them more security staff. She said the entire hospital was under CCTV surveillance and it also had a public address system.