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TN’s hi-tech medical facilities look robust, but public health remains poor
Though the state can boast of the best in medical care, it has a long way to go to in offering last mile treatment to the common man
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Even though Tamil Nadu is known to be a hub for medical tourism with the state leading in health services, city activists claim that there are several aspects that are lacking in the healthcare system.
Stating that the budget allocation itself was not sufficient to meet the needs of the state, Dr Rex Sargunam of the Tamil Nadu Health Development Association said, “It is because of the funds we receive from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) that the state has been able to meet the multiple needs of the public. The government should really consider increasing fund allocation instead of merely trying to hard sell the state as a hub for medical tourism.”
The state has been recognised for the number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) it has. However, the number of doctors volunteering to work in the rural sector has been reducing with each passing year.
“PG service doctors have always been given incentives which motivated them to work in the rural areas. But, now, with the coming up of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), not only has the number of students from the state getting through the examination come down, but also the lack of incentives has resulted in the dearth of dedication amongst the doctors to take up service in rural areas,” added Dr Rex.
Even though the state claims to have no shortage of doctors with over 18,000 government hospital doctors on its rolls, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) requirement of one doctor per 1000 population has not been met.
“Though the number of seats has increased in the state, _ in the past five years, 1,000 more seats have been increased to the already existing 1,945 MBBS seats and the number of PG seats too have gone up by 562 _ the posts of deans and other such important posts continue to remain vacant. Also, many departments, including the Physiotherapy department at Stanley Medical College and Hospital, are in dire need of trained doctors,” said Dr Sharanya S, an activist.
As per the Medical Council of India (MCI), there are almost 10 lakh allopathic doctors registered with the state medical council or MCI, which too, according to the WHO, is fewer than required.
Well-known private facilities like Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Malar, MIOT and SIMS and the world-renowned government hospitals like Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Stanley Hospital and Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital attract patients from all over the globe for complicated surgeries and transplants with state of the art equipment and facilities.
On the flip side, activists, however, said that basic requirements that are important to the public have left much to be desired. “What is the point in boasting about such high-tech facilities when something as important as an Effluent Treatment Plant, sufficient fire safety measures and the like are not installed in hospitals?” said Dr Rex.
The Government Omandurar Multi Super Speciality Hospital is the only government hospital in Tamil Nadu that has an Effluent Treatment Plant. Besides that, very few private hospitals in the state too have ETPs. Tamil Nadu continues to be hit with the most number of dengue cases and despite the state government claiming to be taking adequate measures to create awareness, the public continue to take the issue of water disposal and sewage very lightly.
Stating that the biggest mistake the government makes is to wait till the epidemic hits before it wakes up, Dr Sharanya said, “Only when the number of cases start increasing and deaths are reported, does the government suddenly ask the public not to panic and them starts creating awareness on the steps to be taken prevent cases.
Early intervention is a must in this aspect.”
When such epidemics arise, are hospitals prepared well enough to handle all the cases, she questioned. “There have been so many instances wherein, due to the shortage of beds, patients are made to run from one hospital to another for quality treatment,” she said, adding that the government should take earnest efforts to increase the number of beds in each hospital. It may be noted here that the state government has barely 70,000 in-patient beds.
It may however be noted that the number of In Patient beds in Tamil Nadu are far higher than in most other states, alleged a government official. But to the credit of the state government it must be said that it has been gradually taking steps to improve healthcare in Tamil Nadu.
Citing the recent and rare hand transplant surgery performed, J Radhakrishnan, Health Secretary, said, “Stanley Hospital was even recently appreciated for the surgery. Also, Tamil Nadu has been recognised for organ transplants three years in a row.” Recently, a number of facilities were launched by the government, including the first tissue bank in the Southern region, which was opened at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in January this year.
The centre, which was set up at a cost of Rs 1 crore, has been supported and funded by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) of the Union Health Ministry. Skin, bones, tendons and ligaments, cardiac valves and other tissues are preserved here. Tamil Nadu was recognised thrice in a row for organ transplantation in the country – with 1056 persons having donated their organs until 2017. 5933 organs had been received from these donations.
“A lab for emergencies was set up at a cost of Rs 3.6 crore at the Institute for Child Health and Children’s Hospital in Egmore recently. The upcoming facilities also include a modular cardiac surgery theatre with cath lab for newborns at a cost of Rs 20.75 crore and a lab for inherited disorders and molecular diagnosis lab at a cost of Rs 10.07 crore,” said Dr S Srinivasan, Head, Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at the Hospital.
Besides, in the coming year, Chennai city alone will get around 1,000 new beds for geriatric care to treat patients with diseases such as cancer, which are on the rise of late. Given the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, hospitals are opening large super-speciality facilities. The state government will open a 200-bed facility focusing on care for the elderly. Private hospitals like Apollo Hospitals too have plans to open a 150bed cancer hospital.
FALLING SHORT
- The Government Omandurar Multi Super Speciality Hospital is the only government hospital in Tamil Nadu that has an Effluent Treatment Plant
- There are 18,000 doctors on the rolls in government hospitals. But, it does not meet the WHO’s requirement of one doctor per 1,000 patients
- In the five years, 1,000 more seats have been increased to the already existing 1,945 MBBS seats. But, posts continue to remain vacant
- It may be noted here that the state government has barely 70,000 in-patient beds
- The state’s health facilities are, however, recognised globally
- Despite being a government hospital, the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) has all the facilities mostly seen only in big private hospitals
- Patients from different parts of the world visit the hospital for surgeries and transplants
- Tamil Nadu was recognised thrice in a row for organ transplantation in the country – with 1,056 persons having donated their organs until 2017. 5,933 organs had been received from these donations.
- A lab for emergencies was set up at a cost of Rs 3.6 crore at the Institute for Child Health and Children’s Hospital in Egmore recently
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