At the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, patients and visitors say the ordeal begins right at the entrance. A strong smell of urine fills the air, creating an immediate sense of neglect. Some visitors reported that cleaning staff even used mops to push aside their footwear as though it were garbage, adding to the distress of families already coping with medical emergencies.
Inside the building, the situation becomes more alarming. On the first floor, right outside the high-risk obstetrics unit, heavily pregnant women in active labour were seen sitting or standing on the floor because there were not enough chairs. Their relatives ended up squatting next to them to feed them or offer support. These scenes reflect a painful lack of dignity and compassion toward women who arrive at the hospital in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Several women waiting in the corridors alleged that staff members demanded ₹100 for cleaning services that are supposed to be free. One woman said this had become a regular practice and that many patients felt pressured to pay in order to receive basic attention.
Women at the hospital also complained about inconsistent guidance from the medical staff. Some said different doctors gave contradictory opinions on whether they should attempt a normal delivery or proceed with a caesarean section. The lack of clarity added emotional strain to an already overwhelming experience.
The strain on resources was also evident in the condition of drinking water facilities. On multiple floors, including the second and fourth, taps were not working, even in the post-operative ward. On the ground floor, only one out of three taps functioned. This forced patients and their families to either walk across floors in search of water or rely on packaged drinking water.
Hygiene issues extended beyond water access. A cat was seen roaming freely inside the wards, while stray dogs wandered around the hospital grounds. These conditions sparked concerns about infection risks, especially for new mothers and infants.
According to DTNext in one troubling case, a woman who developed a fever after childbirth was unable to get the necessary diagnostic tests at Kasturba Gandhi Hospital. She was referred to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for further evaluation. Families said such referrals were common and often delayed crucial care.
After these concerns were raised, a senior hospital official assured that the issues would be reviewed and corrected within a week. However, many women and families expressed frustration that such basic problems had remained unaddressed for so long.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)