Wall collapse victims discharged early: MNS

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Saturday alleged that the civic-run Shatabdi Hospital discharged those injured in the Malad wall collapse incident prematurely and without proper medical treatment.

A MNS delegation, led by its general secretary, Shalini Thackeray, met hospital authorities in Kandivali and asked them to re-admit and treat the patients again.

While party workers alleged negligence on the part of the authorities, the hospital dismissed the charge, stating that the patients were discharged after being treated for over 15 days.

Talking to The Asian Age, Dr Pradeep Angre, medical superintendent of hospital, said, “We have been taking care of the patients. We also allowed them to remain in the hospital as they did not have proper accommodation after the wall collapse.”

Dr Angre added that the patients can again visit the hospital for treatment, if they feel the need for it.

Whereas, Ms Thackarey alleged that several victims of the Malad wall collapse incident had approached the party with a complaint that they were forcefully discharged from the hospital. She said that many of the victims even felt the need for further medical care.

“A patient suffered severe injuries to his leg and was unable to walk, but nonetheless he was discharged. The condition of the injured is pathetic,” she said. “Therefore, we handed over a letter to the dean of Shatabdi Hospital, and asked him to get those patients re- admitted,” she added.

Ms Thackeray also asked the hospital authority to improve the quality of medical care within 15 days so that it can serve the poor better. She added that the party also plans to take up the issue with the BMC commissioner

During the intervening night of July 1 and 2, the wall of a reservoir collapsed in suburban Malad, killing 31 people and injuring 94 others.

Most of the injured were admitted to Shatabdi Hospital. Some were admitted to Jogeshwari’s Trauma Hospital.