Water scarcity now hits services in govt hosps

The doctors and medical staff at government hospitals have been instructed to use water effectively to prevent the wastage of water. The dialysis units at Stanley Medical College and Hospital came to a halt for few hours last week as the nephrology unit ran out of water. The doctors at Institute of Child Health also said that the surgeries in the paediatric unit were delayed to check if they have water available for the treatment.

“There are more than 20 water lorries being supplied to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, but it used to be only about 15-18 lorries earlier. Though the supply of metro water lorries has increased, the services have not been affected,” said Dr Narayana Swami, medical superintendent, RGGGH.

Hospital authorities at Kilpauk Medical College admit that the bore wells in the hospital campus have gone dry and dependency on the metro water has increased. “We used to get about 10-12 lorries earlier but now we need at least 15 metro water lorries. The hospital staff has been instructed to ensure effective usage of water and message has been spread on the same to the doctors through the social media circles,” said Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, KMC.

Patients said that they have to buy drinking water from outside as there is insufficient supply of water. While, Arvind S, a doctor at emergency unit at the Kilpauk Medical College said, “There are many people who just rest in the hospitals throughout the day and use water at the government hospital. Each in-patient has three-four visitors every day and at least two-three attendants. Though this is not new at the government hospitals, the consumption of water has increased, which is mostly used by the inpatients and attendants.”

The government hospitals have been buying more number of water lorries to meet the demands of drinking water as the bore wells are running dry. Meanwhile, the State Health Department officials said that the increased demand of the government hospitals are being met with due communication and cooperation from Metrowater Department.