It was supposed to offer affordable healthcare to patients on a par with the facilities at private hospitals. But occupancy at the super-speciality tertiary care hospital constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) at Victoria Hospital does not exceed 60 per cent at any time.
Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi learnt this during a surprise visit on Tuesday.
Acting on complaints of patients being charged for medicines meant to be given for free and the unavailability of doctors, Justice Adi, during his visit, also found that the ICU occupancy rarely exceeded 50 per cent.
“There was a specific complaint against Dr. P.G. Girish (Special Officer, PMSSY) that he was not available to patients. In fact, even when I went, he was not there. He turned up when he learnt that I had visited the hospital,” Justice Adi said.
Pointing out that it was a “good, state-of-the-art hospital” with 210 beds, providing the “best of medical care”, he said that occupancy never exceeds 60 per cent because of non-availability of doctors and specialists. “People are losing confidence in the hospital. Many doctors and specialists working in the hospital are professors at the Bangalore Medical College and Research Hospital. They are engaged in teaching and consultation even at Victoria and Vani Vilas hospitals. So, resources are thinly spread,” Justice Adi said, adding that he will submit a report to the Department of Medical Education.
On the other hand, Dr. Girish said he was on official work at the Karnataka Drugs and Logistics Society, but returned on learning about Justice Adi’s visit. “The occupancy rate on Tuesday was 57 per cent due to the holiday season. Only emergency cases are brought to the hospital. But no patient is sent away without free medicines and we have sufficient stock,” he added.
Says occupancy
never exceeds 60
per cent because of dearth of doctors
and specialists
