Seven Hills Hospital says it can't perform life-saving surgery immediately as doctors are on strike
Saba, who is suffering from breast cancer, is in urgent need of a life-saving surgery
The ongoing strike of doctors at Seven Hills Hospital in Marol over non-payment of their salary has put the life of a 35-year-old cancer patient in jeopardy.
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Saba Shaikh, a mother of two, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and urgently needed a surgery. Saba was to receive treatment at the super specialty hospital under the Rajiv Gandhi Yojana, a healthcare scheme run by the National Health Mission for the poor. While she was given a window period of 15 days for the surgery, she may have to wait for another month due to the strike.
Saba's husband Shaikh Zahir Abdul Gafour is currently running from pillar to post to convince the staff at Seven Hills Hospital to carry out the life-saving surgery under the scheme. Shaikh, who has a monthly income of R15,000, was unable to pay for the treatment, and was hence, referred to a private doctor at the hospital, who was supposed to perform the surgery at a nominal fee. "All our documents, starting from the ration card, salary slip, ID proof and the file for treatment under the scheme, were cleared. But, then we were told that the surgery couldn't be done now, as doctors are on strike. They have asked us to shift her in the general category, but we don't have the money," said Gafour.
Incidentally, after repeated pleas, a doctor from the department of the Rajiv Gandhi Yojana scheme of the hospital, in an unsigned document, referred the patient to Stutee Nursing Home in Malad, which doesn't even have the option for the scheme.
The hospital and staff are currently locked in a battle over non-payment of dues. The doctors haven't been paid since July last year, and began an indefinite strike on December 28, in protest. Around 50 senior doctors had also filed a police compliant seeking action against the management for allegedly mounting pressure on them to quit. The hospital had also recently shut down the OPD, as they couldn't afford to pay the electricity bills.
The hospital's decision to delay treatment, however, hasn't gone down well with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), which has condemned the move.
Dr Shivkumar Utture, president of the MMC, said this is not only a violation of a patient's right, but also goes against the Hippocratic Oath. "The hospital has been going through a tough phase for quite some time, but they can't wash their hands off a case. If a cancer patient is made to wait for a month, the cancer could spread," said Dr Utture. "The management needs to act more responsibly," he added.
Dr Pradeep Vyas, director of the state National Health Mission and Dr Ashok Asthana, medical director of Seven Hills Hospital were unavailable for comment.
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