Hospitals yet to get nod for disaster management plan

Two years after the German Bakery blast, hospitals' demand for more wards, beds and ambulances fails to get civic body approval

Not discounting the possibility of a Mumbai-like blasts in the city, hospitals here have redoubled efforts to improve disaster management. In the last week, hospitals across the city conducted mock drills to review their disaster preparedness. At Ruby Hall Clinic, 'Code Black' was announced at the hospital. The term used by the hospital to signal an emergency when more than 10 casualties are reported is activated whenever there is a disaster situation.

"We do these drills regularly and it coincided with the blasts in Mumbai. We take a review of our disaster kits, link to blood banks and pharmacies for blood and drugs, ambulances and skilled hands available," said Bomi Bhote, CEO, Ruby Hall Clinic.At government-run Sassoon hospital too, authorities conducted an emergency drill.

"We prepared a tem of 15 doctors, five each from surgery, orthopaedic and anesthesia department to go to Mumbai in case help is needed. We also checked on the staff strength and availability of beds and blood groups in case of disaster," said Dr D G Kulkarni, medical superintendent, Sassoon General Hospital.

Hospitals said the drills also made them realise that while they are prepared to handle small-scale disaster, mass casualty in numbers greater than 100 or so would be difficult to manage. "I think between all big private hospitals we could manage about 50 patients and about the same number in government hospitals.
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But what if too many are injured? We need to increase our existing facilities for that. We had foreseen this during the German Bakery blasts and sent a proposal to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to expand our casualty ward to accommodate more emergency cases. Despite the urgent need, we are yet to receive permission," said Bhote.

Soon after the German Bakery blast, authorities at Sassoon hospital had come up with a disaster management plan that demanded more ventilators, a dedicated helpline and CCTV surveillance of the hospital building. Two years on, the plan is still on paper.

Sources at the Sassoon hospital said that the file was stuck in limbo as top officials in the hospital keep changing. There is no one to follow up on the subject, sources said.

Dr Kulkarni said the proposal was made by an erstwhile team of officials. He said he did not know the details. "I know that a plan for disaster management was submitted to the PMC. But we are yet to receive permission for that. It's still in the process," he said.

The Other Side
Dr R R Pardeshi, medical officer, PMC said that he had no knowledge of the proposal until MiD DAY brought it to his notice. "I didn't know they had submitted such a proposal. After enquiries I found it was sent to another department. I will look into the case personally and will help improve medical preparedness in the city," he said. Despite several attempts, Dr Pravin Shengare, joint director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research in-charge of affairs at Sassoon hospital, was not available for comment.