Juhu resident Ganesh More has been visiting public hospitals for over a fortnight to save his newborn son. Born prematurely at just 31 weeks on June 29, his baby weighs 1.1 kilograms and needs urgent, specialised care. But finding just one neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) bed is proving a Herculean, heart-breaking task for More. The child is receiving treatment at the private Howard Newborn Centre in Malad, and the family has spent over Rs 6 lakh on his medical expenses so far, but are unsure how they will continue to ensure their child’s survival.
I never thought that the condition of our civic hospitals was so bad. I had always heard that civic hospitals were always running at full capacity. But now that I am experiencing the same, it shows how much the system needs to be improved,” said Ganesh.
Ganesh and Asmita More in 2021. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Sharing her ordeal, the baby’s 24-year-old mother, Asmita More, said, “We have sold all the gold that we had, including my mangalsutra, because that`s how bad the situation is. I just want my child to get well soon and live a healthy life.” An approximate expenditure letter provided by Howard Newborn Centre on July 4, a copy of which is in mid-day’s possession, states that the child will need to be kept at the hospital for another eight to 10 weeks, the projected cost of which is Rs 17,50,000. As per the letter, this amount includes the cost of five to six weeks of hospital stay and ventilator, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), bed, nursing and doctor`s charges. Further, it includes hospital stay without ventilation for the remaining weeks, the cost of laboratory investigations, disposables, medication and surgery charges.
“Of the Rs 6 lakh that we have spent so far, my brother gave me Rs 2 lakh, senior colleagues arranged a few thousand and my company gave me Rs 50,000, other relatives gave me Rs 50,000 and the rest we arranged by selling off all our gold. Now we are out of all monetary resources, and our baby needs intensive care for almost three more months. We do not know how to finance his treatment further,” said Ganesh, a peon employed by a private firm.
Asmita and Ganesh More in happier times. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Ganesh has been continuously visiting government hospitals, but the only response that he has gotten is, “Sorry, but beds are not available”. “When we visited Wadia Hospital, they said that it’s better to keep the baby at the same private hospital as he had undergone an operation [exploratory laparotomy with wedge anastomosis] and requires round-the-clock nursing. They also did not have a bed available as the waiting list is quite long,” said Ganesh.
When mid-day reached out to government hospitals that have NICU facilities, Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO, Wadia Group of Hospitals, said, “The number of cases requiring neonatal care has increased in the past decade. This is not just because more children are getting sick or more premature births are taking place, but because medical science has advanced, and now more people are aware of these treatments, which brings the parents to hospitals in the hope of saving their child. Our beds are full as we already have a huge waiting list.”
The Howard Newborn Centre in Malad West, where the child is undergoing treatment. PIC/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
When Ganesh had gone to KEM Hospital, he was told, “The beds are full and we need to prioritise cases where babies were born at KEM Hospital. Only when there are no such cases, beds become available, which is very rare.” KEM Dean Dr Sangeeta Rawat, however, told mid-day to contact the hospital on Monday, July 14, to check if a transfer is possible.
A ray of hope
0n July 13, when mid-day called up Cama Hospital, located 37 km away from Howard Newborn Centre in Malad, Medical Superintendent Dr Tushar Palve was kind enough to help. “When we had visited Cama Hospital on July 4, they told us that beds were not available. They took my contact details and said they would inform me when a bed was available. We kept waiting, but that call never came. It was only on Sunday evening, when mid-day called and informed me that a bed was available, that we received some hope,” said Ganesh.
Palve said, “The NICU is always occupied as there are only a few government hospitals in Mumbai that provide these facilities. Luckily, a bed became available on the night of July 12, and you called me on the afternoon of July 13, which is why I could be of help. We have spoken with the doctors at the Howard Newborn Centre. However, since it was late at night, the doctors there have suggested moving the baby in the morning, considering that the child will require an ambulance with a ventilator.”
The twist
The Howard Centre does not have a neonatal transport ambulance, a vehicle equipped with life-saving equipment and a trained team to handle such critical transfers. “The baby can’t be moved without a neonatal ventilator and expert staff. He’s too fragile. Without proper transfer, he won’t survive the journey, according to doctors. Also, transferring our son will require a team of specialised doctors, who are to accompany us throughout the journey. Neither hospital has the manpower for this,” said Ganesh.
Couple in a fix
“Now the doctors have said that they will start keeping the baby off the ventilator for short periods throughout the day and see if he can breathe on his own. They have said that it will at least take one week for him to come out of the woods. We are running out of money, though, and we don`t know if the bed at Cama Hospital will stay available. Now all we can do is pray that he survives and we get some help,” said Ganesh.
Rs 17,50,000
Approximate cost of continuing private treatment of child
