Unsafe Hospital Building Structure: 77 year old Prince Aly Khan Hospital shuts doors for patients

Mumbai: The 77-year-old Prince Aly Khan Hospital (PAKH) at Mazgaon which is a part of the Aga Khan Health Services, India has decided to shut its in-patient admissions and suspend surgeries following an independent structural audit based on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations' (BMC) direction which revealed that the main building was unsafe for occupancy. 

The audit observed that the main hospital building was structurally weak and unsafe for occupancy even though it is regularly maintained. Another structural audit is also scheduled to take place to decide if the building needed to be demolished, or rebuilt or if they require some other solutions. Other patient services, like the OPD which is located outside the main hospital building, would continue to function. 

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In a written piece to the doctors, the hospital stated that they are shutting the inpatient admissions and are suspending surgeries with immediate effect considering the health and safety of the patients, staff, and all stakeholders. 

The hospital chairman, Amin Manekia said that they received the structural audit report on August 19 following which the board meeting was held on the morning of August 20. He said, "I am still trying to wrap my head around the development. We did all we could do by carrying out regular repairs, maintenance, etc. We had regular structural audits. Last year's structural audit showed significant deterioration after which we carried out repair works for eight-nine months."

The chairman who was born and brought up in the hospital said that a part of the ceiling in the X-ray room had come off because of which they had consulted the BMC which led to the subsequent detailed structural report that revealed the non-safety of the building. He noted that the report categorized the building under the C-1 category (dilapidated), adding that they would submit the report to the BMC on August 22 while they start the second round of structural audit, reports Hindustan Times. 

He said, "The C-1 category implies the building needs to be demolished or rebuilt. It is too early to say as we go ahead with the second audit. Hopefully, we will find a viable solution. For us, our patients and staff's safety is our topmost priority and will not be compromised at any cost. We, therefore, decided to shut the in-patient service with immediate effect as soon as the first audit report came. We had to take the tough decision."

A source told the Free Press Journal, "For now there are around 50 in-patients who will be shifted. Meanwhile, we are holding meetings with nearby hospitals and doctors and will come up with a viable solution on shifting patients depending on their condition." The statement released by the hospital stated, "The safety of our patients, staff, and community is of paramount importance," adding, "We are mindful of the wide-ranging impact this decision will have on our patients, our doctors and staff. However, as a responsible healthcare provider, this decision is in the best interests of all our stakeholders. We are working closely with the BMC on this matter and an update will be provided in the next few days."

Expressing their shock at the sudden closure of the in-patient services in the hospital, the doctors said that the news came as a shock as they never expected the building to be in a dilapidated condition. A senior doctor working at the hospital observed, "We heard that a part of the ceiling in the X-ray room had come off recently after which they went for an independent structural audit as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) directives. We received an email from the board on April 20 about the temporary shutdown. It was abrupt."

The 154-bed hospital began in 1945 as a 16-bed nursing home and it treated more than 3000 COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there are around 65-70 admitted patients in the hospital. Manekia said, "We spoke to all our doctors for all the patients who are admitted with us right now. We have an average hospital stay of 4-5 days. Most of our patients will get discharged in the next few days. The critical patients will be taken care of with adequate care."

Every year, the hospital sees around 170,000 outpatients and 9,000 in-patients. Meanwhile, an expansion plan for the hospital was planned by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). As per the plan, a 350-bedded hospital would be constructed opposite PAKH's current location. However, the project is in the planning phase and would take 4-5 years for completion. Manekia said, "We thought at least till then the main building will be there with us. The structural audit's development has come as a complete shock for all of us. We had recently inaugurated our transit building that houses the outdoor patient services and a brand-new maternity wing. The OPD services will be on. Meantime, for inpatients, we have a good rapport with neighbouring hospitals where the patients will be referred."

Surgical oncologist Dr. Sultan Pradhan, Dr. Anil D'Cruz, former director of Tata Memorial Hospital, and well-known surgical oncologist, Dr. Gustad Daver, a renowned vascular surgeon are some of the well-known doctors who are associated with the hospital. 

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