MUMBAI: A nine-month-old pregnant woman was allegedly denied admission to a private hospital in Bandra on Monday, despite experiencing cramps, because she did not have a Covid-19 test report. Misbah Shaikh, 24, and her family spent nearly six hours in the hospital, applying for admission but to no avail. Her family is concerned that she may give birth at any time and will need immediate medical attention.
Shaikh had registered with the Holy Family Hospital for delivery and had paid a deposit. He had been consulting a gynecologist there for four months. “My scheduled admission date was April 28. But on Sunday night, I developed cramps and was restless. At 9 am Monday, we arrived at Holy Family Hospital, where we were told they would not give me access without a Covid-19 test report. No one had asked us to do this test during our previous visits, ”Shaikh said. Until 3pm, she waited in the car outside. A doctor agreed to see her in the emergency department and gave her a prescription for a Covid-19 test.
From the hospital, Shaikh's family took her to the Bhabha Hospital, Bandra, for a Covid-19 test. But the hospital said it would need to be admitted, which the family was unwilling to do. "The cramps are down but not gone. My due date for delivery is near," Shaikh said. His family has made an appointment in an Andheri laboratory for Tuesday, where he will undergo the test. After many of those refusals, BMC has appointed BYL Nair Hospital in Central Mumbai and Nanavati in Parle to deliver Covid positive women. Nair has made over 20 deliveries so far.
Although authorities at the Sagrada Familia Hospital could not be contacted, a member of the gynecology ward medical staff told the TOI women that they had been asked to enter two days before their due date. “We carried out a Covid-19 test and if it comes out negative, we continue with the delivery. If the woman is positive, we refer her to another hospital. We also ask an assistant accompanying the woman to take the test, ”said the employee.
There have been many such cases. Those at critical points suffer more. A 32-year-old Dadar woman was rejected from 3 hospitals despite having a positive report of malaria last week. "Since I had a fever, nobody wanted to admit me," he said. A 40-year-old man with gastrointestinal problems said he was asked to have a Covid-19 test before going to the hospital after he developed pain and vomiting.
Bhiwandi MLA and Byculla manager Rais Shaikh said they have written to the BMC chief in this regard. "The results of these tests take longer than 24-72 hours, and treatment for such patients cannot wait. In addition, many struggle to finance their own treatment and cannot afford such tests," he said.
Dr. Lalit Kapoor of the Association of Medical Consultants said that a hospital interested in protecting staff was probably justified in requesting such a report if it was surgery. "For routine exams, it would be unfair to ask for a report," he said. Gynecologist Dr. Kiran Coelho, who consults with the Lilavati Hospital, said they have informed all registered women, who have entered 38 weeks of gestation, to be tested. "ICMR guidelines say pregnant women and an assistant must have a negative Covid-19 report with a validity of 15 days. The validity period is 5 days for those coming from the critical points, "he said.
Shaikh had registered with the Holy Family Hospital for delivery and had paid a deposit. He had been consulting a gynecologist there for four months. “My scheduled admission date was April 28. But on Sunday night, I developed cramps and was restless. At 9 am Monday, we arrived at Holy Family Hospital, where we were told they would not give me access without a Covid-19 test report. No one had asked us to do this test during our previous visits, ”Shaikh said. Until 3pm, she waited in the car outside. A doctor agreed to see her in the emergency department and gave her a prescription for a Covid-19 test.
From the hospital, Shaikh's family took her to the Bhabha Hospital, Bandra, for a Covid-19 test. But the hospital said it would need to be admitted, which the family was unwilling to do. "The cramps are down but not gone. My due date for delivery is near," Shaikh said. His family has made an appointment in an Andheri laboratory for Tuesday, where he will undergo the test. After many of those refusals, BMC has appointed BYL Nair Hospital in Central Mumbai and Nanavati in Parle to deliver Covid positive women. Nair has made over 20 deliveries so far.
Although authorities at the Sagrada Familia Hospital could not be contacted, a member of the gynecology ward medical staff told the TOI women that they had been asked to enter two days before their due date. “We carried out a Covid-19 test and if it comes out negative, we continue with the delivery. If the woman is positive, we refer her to another hospital. We also ask an assistant accompanying the woman to take the test, ”said the employee.
There have been many such cases. Those at critical points suffer more. A 32-year-old Dadar woman was rejected from 3 hospitals despite having a positive report of malaria last week. "Since I had a fever, nobody wanted to admit me," he said. A 40-year-old man with gastrointestinal problems said he was asked to have a Covid-19 test before going to the hospital after he developed pain and vomiting.
Bhiwandi MLA and Byculla manager Rais Shaikh said they have written to the BMC chief in this regard. "The results of these tests take longer than 24-72 hours, and treatment for such patients cannot wait. In addition, many struggle to finance their own treatment and cannot afford such tests," he said.
Dr. Lalit Kapoor of the Association of Medical Consultants said that a hospital interested in protecting staff was probably justified in requesting such a report if it was surgery. "For routine exams, it would be unfair to ask for a report," he said. Gynecologist Dr. Kiran Coelho, who consults with the Lilavati Hospital, said they have informed all registered women, who have entered 38 weeks of gestation, to be tested. "ICMR guidelines say pregnant women and an assistant must have a negative Covid-19 report with a validity of 15 days. The validity period is 5 days for those coming from the critical points, "he said.
-
to download
The times of India News app for the last City News
-
Subscribe
Start your daily mornings with the Times of India newspaper! Order now
.