These Re 1 clinics in Mumbai need immediate medical attention

In May amid equal anticipation and scepticism the firstofitskind onerupee clinics were opened at five busy railway stations in Mumbai Mulund Ghatkopar Dadar Kurla and Wadala Though just a few months old more than 10000 passengers have benefitted from them so farExmedical officer at Arthur Road Jail and the brains behind this project Dr Rahul Ghule said the clinics grabbed headlines after a baby was delivered at the one in GhatkoparAt these clinics doctors provide treatment at just Rs 1 and if its a medical emergency then treatment is free The clinics operate round the clock while those requiring treatment from the outpatient department are catered to from 8 am to 8 pm Patients can also buy medicines and get tests done at discounted ratesmidday took a test drive and found out that though the clinics are a boon for emergencies and otherwise they still lack vital infrastructure And to be able to serve commuters better they also need more manpower and medicinesThe Rs 1 clinic at Mulund has two MBBS doctors on rotation with one nurse for helpMulund1520 patients visit dailyStaff Two MBBS doctors on rotation and one nurseLocation Platform 1Azhar Khan 23 a Mulund resident was at the station when he got severe stomach pain and collapsed Commuters took him to the Rs 1 clinic where Dr Nikhil Prakash Supe conducted an ECG and after providing basic treatment referred him to M T Agarwal hospital There an ultrasound revealed kidney stones We brought his pain under control and referred him to a hospital as we suspected it could be a kidney or an appendix issue said Supe On Friday it was Rajkumar Borikar who rushed there on experiencing sudden chest pain The doctor checked his blood pressure and did an ECG that ruled out a heart attack He was given medicines and discharged For Khan Borikar and several others the clinic its prompt treatment and affordable costs were a blessing but it needs more to keep up the good work for starters specialised doctors The doctors currently there have completed MBBS and work in shifts with just one nurse for assistance Also the store attached to the clinic doesnt stock branded medicines as yetThe pharmacy at the Wadala clinic is yet to open PicAtul KambleWadala1520 patients visit dailyStaff One MBBS doctor and one BMS doctor on rotation two male nurses and one female nurseLocation Platform 1At this station theres an advertisement of this clinic on every platform However the pharmacy is yet to open and the space given to the clinic has not been properly utilised It has two rooms but only the emergency one is open for doctors and patients while the other meant to be used as an OPDlab is locked Staff is staying in the room meant for OPDlab Once the licence to open it is received it will be unlocked But it will be used as a pharmacy said Dr Ghule Speaking to midday 83yearold Ashan Kotak said This is my second visit and I am satisfied with the service Kotak has been coming all the way from Vashi to get his BP checked Another patient Sankalp Bopte 24 who also came to get his BP checked said I visited the clinic after seeing a poster of it at the station on July 18 Prompt and efficient service and it costs me less than any private labThe Kurla clinic will start stocking branded medicines from July 24 say doctors PicSameer MarkandeKurla3040 patients visit dailyStaff Three MBBS doctors on rotation and two nursesLocation Outside the station on the east sideIts been a month but patients here havent been getting branded medicines at the pharmacy attached to the clinic On Friday Rahul Jadhav 25 who was suffering from an eye infection found out that while a board put up outside claimed that medicines were available at 15 per cent discount they didnt have any of the branded ones that his doctor had prescribed I came to the clinic for its cheap consultancy and medicines but the ones I needed were not available said Jadhav an unemployed youth from Kurla East The doctor at the clinic however assured that all branded medicines would be available from July 24 The pharmacy here opened just 15 days back At present generic medicines are available From July 24 branded ones will be available at 15 per cent discount reiterated Dr Ghule Doctors at the Kurla clinic said they were happy to see that within a month so many people had embraced the concept Its good to see patients coming in for proper treatment and even followups said Dr Suraj DivateSixtyyearold Balkrishna who was brought in at the Rs 1 clinic in Ghatkopar with severely high blood pressureGhatkopar6065 patients visit dailyStaff Two MBBS doctors on rotation and 3 nurses till 10 pmLocation Platform 1On Friday when midday paid a visit a 60yearold passenger was brought in bleeding from his mouth Doctors performed tests that showed his blood pressure at 160100 He was referred to Rajawadi hospital Our main aim is to provide quick treatment that helps in controlling the mortality rate In this case we did an ECG and sugar test on him and accordingly referred him to a tertiary hospital said Dr Aksata Laxman Tare MD in medicine Due to the discounted rates for tests people have started preferring these clinics Ghatkopar resident Anwar Inamdar 50 went to the centre for the blood test of his son Arbaaz 20 an engineering student Our doctor had advised to get a blood test done When I inquired with labs they quoted R1500 this clinic charged only R100 If the same test can be done at a cheaper rate why should I pay more said Anwar Here however the space provided is inadequate considering the number of people coming in daily While doctors are available 247 nurses work till 10 pm The clinic is trying to get male nurses for the night shiftDadar80100 patients visit dailyStaff Three doctors and three nurses round the clockLocation Platform 1The clinic at Dadar is obviously the most crowded and receives the highest number of patients daily with a majority being residents of neighbouring areas coming for blood tests and basic diagnosis Sion resident Rajesh Agarwal 34 who wanted to get a blood test done for his 10yearold son ditched private laboratories and went to the Dadar clinic owing to its discounted rates Private labs had asked for R3000 for the blood tests prescribed by our doctor Then a friend suggested that I visit the Rs 1 clinic Here I got the same tests done for Rs 500 he said Another local going gaga over the clinic is 21yearold Dakshata Goswami who had to get down from the train and rush there after developing severe stomach pain Her reports came normal and doctors gave her injections for the gasrelated cramps The pain was sudden and severe Thanks to the clinic I got immediate relief or else I would have had to rush to a hospital and run around completing formalities she said Dr Ghule said they planned to tie up with BMC soon and that it would provide more doctors