Water comes at a price at Bangalore hospitals

You may have got admitted to Bangalore’s premier public healthcare institutions hoping to recover soon. But in at least a couple of these institutions, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Vani Vilas Hospital, you might end up having a heart-break every time you need water, for you will have to pay through your nose for every drop of it.

And mind you, water comes at a premium not for drinking purposes but for bathing. The charge may vary depending on your negotiating abilities with attenders.

“There is no fixed rate, but attenders charge nothing less than Rs20 to Rs30 per bucket of water. And if you give a moderate Rs5 or Rs10, they refuse to get water the next day,” said Sarojamma, whose daughter is admitted at the gynaecology ward at Bowring hospital for delivery. “We have been paying Rs30 for a bucket of bathing water over the last four days. All women here are at the mercy of ward boys for water,” she said.

Earlier, residents and commercial establishments were found pilfering water from the rusted pipelines, resulting in severe water shortage at the hospital. The changed water pipes did curb this menace.

“However, the water crisis inside the hospital remains. We continue to hear cries for water from the wards. We have urged the BWSSB several times to supply more water, but with no results,” said a senior doctor from Bowring hospital. The doctor said that around 12 days ago the hospital authority dug a borewell to solve the crisis, and this had improved the situation.

Patients at Victoria Hospital have nothing much to complain about, but those at neighbouring Vani Vilas feel the pinch when it comes to want of hot water. Attenders here seem to be exploiting the warm water needs for bathing babies, but other patients requiring hot water also need to empty their purses.

“The rates are negotiable, ranging between Rs50 and Rs100 per bucket. The mother needs to pay the attender in charge of her ward to make arrangements for bathing the baby,” said Prakash Kumar, whose daughter delivered a baby recently at Vani Vilas. At times, mothers need to even pay for a simple sponge bath, he said.
(With inputs from Senthalir S)