Largest govt-run leprosy hospital in dire straits in Pune

A severe shortage of funds has crippled the running of the state government-run Dr Bandorwala Leprosy Hospital, the largest leprosy hospital run by the state government, located in Kondhwa Budruk area of the city. The lack of funds, estimated at Rs40 lakh, has led to staff shortage and lacks security, emergency medical facilities and ambulances for the 150 inmates.

On the eve of Anti-Leprosy Day, DNA paid a visit to the hospital and realised that the hospital was in dire straits. Most of the inmates lived and worked in small shanties which doubled up as out-patient departments.

The inmates spent their days doing odd jobs like dressing wounds, cleaning toilets, sweeping floors, changing linen or dressing wounds for which they were paid a nominal amount of Rs40 per day.

Dr KP Shah, acting in-charge of the hospital, said a shortfall of Rs40 lakh that had prevented the hospital from paying salaries to its staffers, resulting in resignations, lack of security staff and absence of emergency medical services.

He said, “The security and cleaning staff have not been paid for months. Many staffers have left the job or those who are working are not doing it very well. We cannot force them too much as the contractor has to be paid for many months.”

He emphasised that security was an issue. Lack of security staff means encroachments are rampant on hospital property. “We do not have a compound wall. The proposal is pending for many years. We will probably need lakhs for constructing the same and we have no money,” he added.

Seema Vavre, physiotherapist at the hospital, told DNA that they badly needed specialised footwear and prostheses to rehabilitate patients. “The government does not give us any funds for it. So far, a few NGOs have been contributing to buy the footwear, but it’s not enough. We are hoping to get funds to help us achieve this task.”

As there are no emergency services at the hospital, leprosy patients from the hospital are sent to the Sassoon Hospital for major treatment. “Reconstructive surgeries are done with the help of private doctors free of cost. The government hasn’t appointed any surgeon though we have an operation theatre. The ambulance also broke down a year ago. If there is an emergency, we use a vehicle or call 100 for help,” said Meenal Chandekar, medical social worker.

The only silver lining has been the formation of the patient welfare committee two months ago, the proposal for which had been pending at the charity commissioner’s office for many years. It is this committee that is expected to bring in at least Rs10 lakh to the hospital. However, the committee is still on paper and not a single meeting has been conducted so far.