The most harrowed were relatives on the second floor, where critical patients were admitted in the 20-bed intensive care unit (ICU) and cardiac care unit (CCU).
While film shooting usually draws excited onlookers and fans, relatives of patients in Criticare Hospital in Andheri (East) did not take kindly to it after facing inconvenience for two straight days. All of Tuesday and Wednesday, a production crew had taken over the eight-storeyed building, shooting on the premises.
The most harrowed were relatives on the second floor, where critical patients were admitted in the 20-bed intensive care unit (ICU) and cardiac care unit (CCU). Relatives of a 66-year-old man, who was admitted with respiratory failure, shifted him out on Thursday, allegedly because of hospital authorities' callous attitude.
"Everyone entering the ICU wears special footwear, special masks and must sanitise their hands thoroughly. It came as a shock to patients' relatives when the crew members openly flouted all health and safety precautions. What was worse, the security let them enter," said a relative of the 66-year-old.
The shooting for a Marathi film had started there on Tuesday — an actress posing as a patient lodged on a stretcher and an actor as a doctor. They were ferried in and out of rooms, besides the ICU. Multiple takes were done and the shooting went on until late into the night.
Even though there are two entrances to the ICU, the shooting spot was separated from the patients' area by a mere curtain. "This raises huge questions on the hospital's infection control policy. How can they allow shooting in the area where patients are admitted?" questioned a relative.
On Wednesday afternoon, after patients' relatives created a ruckus, the shooting was wrapped up outside the ICU, but went on on the ground and sixth floors until late. A crew of up to a hundred members had hijacked the staircases and elevators for two days.
The son of a 77-year-old man, admitted in the ICU after a knee replacement surgery, said, "The space near elevator was extremely cramped. Movement of patients and their relatives was affected. The crew members were chewing gutkha and tobacco in the corridors. Moreover, hospitals are silence zones, but there was a lot of commotion during the shooting."
Hospital director Dr Deepak Namjoshi said there was no rule by the government or civic body saying film shootings inside hospitals are not allowed. "I can permit shooting on any or all floors, if I want. Patients were not inconvenienced."
Experts, however, say film shootings cause a lot of inconvenience to patients and should not be conducted in areas where those critical are admitted.
"We usually restrict film shootings on hospital premises. And if they have to take place, we only allow in administrative areas or floors not in use. We never give permission to shoot near critical patients," said Dr S Narayani, director, Fortis hospital in Mulund.
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