Shocking information has been revealed in the RTI that in the last 6 years, 798 TB patients have fled from the TB hospital in Sewri. This is the only TB Hospital of Municipal Corporation in Sewari. The RTI further reveals that many patients have absconded from the hospital due to the reasons such as avoiding treatments, taking discharge against doctor’s advice. The RTI reveals the information absconded patients from 2013 to 2018. However, the number of patients fled from treatment has decreased since last year.
According to the RTI, the information has been provided on three levels of TB treatment. According to RTI activist Chetan Kothari, 792 TB patients have fled from TB hospital in Sewariin the last 6 years.
So, till August 2018, 76 patients have been absent from the hospital, which is the lowest in comparison to the previous year. In the last six years, 163 people have fled in 2016. This number is the highest in 6 years.
According to the information provided by the hospital administration, the number of the absconders has fallen by almost 50 percent as compared to the previous year’s figures. According to the data, 140 patients were absconded in 2013. So, 153 patients in 2014, 151 in 2015, 163 in 2016, 115 in 2017 and 76 patients till August 2018 have fled.
TB Hospital’s Medical Superintendent Lalitkumar Anand said that most of the patients in TB hospital are separated from their relatives. So they live alone. Most of the people also meet their relatives after fleeing. Patients have to stay in the hospital for a long period for the treatment. However, the number of patients absconding this year is less than the previous year. This year, till August 2018, 17 women and 59 menhave absconded from taking treatment while 184 men and 157 women have avoided taking advice.
When a person is admitted in the hospital for very long time, he loses confidence. Counseling is also needed to heal such patients. Often Doctors could not talk to patients. If the patient stays outside the hospital for more than three hours, then we inform the police. In the last six years, ‘DAMA’ means Discharge against Medical Advice is used by many patients. There are total 3,613 such patients. – Dr. LalitKumar Anand, Medical Superintendent, TB Hospital, Sewari
The percentage of TB patients running away from the hospital has been lowered since past several years now. Many times a same patient run away, then his relatives again drop him in the hospital. But, it is now seen that this ratio has also decreased. Moreover, since the treatment system has improved, patients are positive in taking treatment. The hospital is taking initiatives that make patients happy in the hospital.- Dr. Padmaja Keskar, Health Officer, Mumbai Municipal Corporation
