Sars hospitality comes at a price

MUMBAI: The rows of barracks amid thetrees hardly give the impression of a hospital where a battle is being foughtagainst the latest virus. But the sylvan surroundings and turn-of-the-centurycharm have failed to impress the hospital’s latest set of patients.For those used to air-conditioned suites, piped music and freshfruit juice, the more basic amenities that the civic-run Kasturba GandhiInfectious Diseases Hospital at Mumbai Central has to offer have left them moredismayed than the possibility of being Sars-positive. The hospitalstaff also has been under pressure as it tries to cater to the demands of thesenew patients. Bhaskar Murthy, the 34-year-old businessman who testedSars-positive and who armtwisted the authorities into discharging him againstmedical advice, was evidently not at ease in a place where the only luxury is aceiling fan. The doctors said he was the most difficult patient whofound fault with everything. Twenty-three-year-old Rebecca Raleigh, thecity’s first Sars suspect, kept the nurses on their toes, with hourlydemands for juices, ice-creams and whatever else struck her fancy. Often she hadto be firmly told that she was a foreigner and should quietly accept thehospitality of the host country. In fact, during a recent symposium,medical specialist Lata Bichile made it a point to commend the hospital’snursing staff for uncomplainingly trying to fulfil the patient’s everywhim, even though meant donning elaborate protective gear including gloves,mask, cap, goggles, gown and shoe covers every half hour. Accordingto the staff, the only two persons who have not complained are the cabbie whoferried Sars patient Stanley D’Silva Pune some days ago and friend of MrD’Silva who accompanied them. “These are localboys,’’ chuckled staffer. “They seem quite homehere.’’ Meanwhile, the BMC planning to charge non-resident Indiansor foreigners who are admitted to Kasturba hospital for Sars-like symptoms.Municipal commissioner Karun Srivastava said that the BMC spends Rs 5,000 perday on barrier clothing like gloves and gowns alone, which have to be disposedof after a single use.’’