Aundh Civil Hospital's past as a TB referral centre keeps beds empty
Aundh Civil Hospital's past as a TB referral centre keeps beds empty
The stigma of tuberculosis (TB) has found an unusual victim ufffd a super-specialty hospital in Aundh.
Refurbished three years ago, the Aundh Civil Hospital is yet to gain popularity in its neighbourhood, despite its claims of having over 16 super-speciality services. The reason ufffd its past of being a TB patients' referral centre.
Dr M C Nagare, civil surgeon at Aundh hospital, said that not even half of the beds in the 400-bed hospital are occupied most of the time.
"Earlier, end-stage patients, terminally ill and serious cases were sent here for treatment and that's how our hospital gained popularity. Lately, the hospital expanded services and has become a general hospital as there was a need for a big government hospital in this area," said Nagare.
Skills not utilised
Despite the fact that there is no alternative government hospital in the area, the Aundh hospital is yet to find takers for its services.
"We still have a tuberculosis wing on the top floor but it is separated from the main hospital and the movement of patients is restricted. Yet,
people don't come to us," said Nagare. "We have a maximum of 140 beds occupied at any given point of
time because of this. We have so many super-specialists but their skills aren't getting utilised."
State help sought
The hospital authorities said that they have now approached the state government to intervene and popularise the hospital.
"There is a hospital building opposite our main building which was earlier marked for housing swine flu patients.
It was estimated that a second wave of the pandemic would arrive and that time a separate hospital would be required. But now, it is known that no second wave arrived in winters. We want that building to shift TB patients now, so that more people start coming to our hospital," said Nagare.
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