NRI slams private hospital for negligence, poor service

Covid-19 patient Bhupendra Patel, 69, claims CIMS hospital failed to maintain hygiene, did not provide timely and quality food and the staff was rude; hospital admits lacuna, says they are maturing their system for Covid patients

At a time when government and AMC-run hospitals are chock-a-block with Covid-19 patients, a 69-year-old Non Resident Indian (NRI) who preferred to spend a huge sum and get himself treated at a private hospital expecting quality service was in for a rude shock with the treatment meted out to him.

Bhupendra Patel, like every year, had come down from the US in December to organise a free medical camp for devotees who go walking to Dakor. He has been organising the camp for the past 28 years. He was stuck after a lockdown was announced following the pandemic.

Patel, who is currently living with his wife Shobhaben in Kankaria which falls under Red Zone, was infected with Covid-19 and was admitted to CIMS hospital in Science City area on May 10. Patel alleges that it turned out to be a nightmare as the hospital failed to maintain hygiene, provided no timely and quality food and above all had staff whose behaviour was rude.

Horrified by the experience, Patel took discharge within five days of his hospitalisation. Though he is a diabetic, no Covid-19 test was conducted before his discharge, he claimed.

Talking to Mirror, Patel said, "I had high expectation of quality service at a private hospital, but it was a disaster as I was treated as if they were doing some favour by treating me. On the day of my admission on May 10, no doctor came to examine me."

On May 14, the fifth day of my hospitalisation, the doctor asked me, "Do you want to go?" "I told them as you say and they discharged me. CIMS -naam bade aur darshan chhote ," said Patel.

Patel's nephew Mit Patel told Mirror, "CIMS hospital gave us a package of Rs 5.10 lakh for 14 days hospitalisation in a private room. However, looking at the poor service we took discharge in five days, for which they charged us Rs 2.07 lakh."

Patel has two sons who are doctors in the US. CIMS Hospital COO Dr Prashant Deshmukh said, "I am not aware of the patient's details. Kindly contact Dr Dhiren Shah who is the spokesperson." Dr Dhiren Shah, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at CIMS said, "I agree that there will be lacuna but we are maturing our system for the Covid patients. Even the staff are scared to work with Covid patients; therefore we are running short of staff. This may have led to little delay at times in service. But I don't agree with Mr Patel's allegations of not being examined by the doctors."

Regarding the early discharge, Dr Shah said, "As per the new guidelines, we examined him and found him fit to be discharged."