Mumbai Hospital Faces Setback Due to Election Duties

Impact on Patient Care

In a significant development, approximately 134 doctors and allied staff at the state-run Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Byculla have been assigned to election duties, raising concerns among hospital authorities. The dean of JJ Group of Hospitals has expressed that this situation could severely disrupt patient care.

Request to Cancel Election Duty Orders

Dr. Ajay Bhandarwar, dean of JJ Hospital, has formally requested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to revoke the election duty orders affecting these medical professionals. In a letter addressed to the civic commissioner, Dr. Bhandarwar emphasized that the deployment of medical staff for election-related work would negatively impact healthcare services at the facility.

Dependence on Hospital Services

Dr. Bhandarwar highlighted the hospital’s critical role in providing care, stating, “A huge number of poor and needy patients from all over Maharashtra are admitted to Sir JJ Group of Hospitals as outpatients and inpatients.” He also noted that the admission process for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses is currently ongoing. He warned that sending essential teaching staff for election duties would hinder patient services.

Background of Election Duty Allocation

This request follows a communication from the BMC commissioner, who also serves as the district election officer, informing Dr. Bhandarwar about the allocation of election duties to hospital staff. To bolster his appeal, the dean included a letter from the Under Secretary and Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, which indicated that staff at government hospitals are exempt from election duties as they are considered part of essential services.

Concerns Within the Medical Community

The situation has caused alarm within the medical community, as reported by Medic Helpline in 2024. Nearly 1,800 doctors and nurses from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and civic-run medical college hospitals have been instructed to prepare for election duties scheduled for May 19 and 20, 2024.

Specific Numbers of Affected Staff

Of the 1,800 medical professionals, around 544 doctors and 820 nurses have received directives from the collector’s office to participate in election duties. Specifically, nearly 900 doctors and nurses from KEM Hospital, 250 from Sion Hospital, 278 from Cooper Hospital, 220 from Nair Hospital, 35 from Nair Dental, and 48 from JJ Hospital have been impacted. Each medical professional received individual notifications from government authorities regarding their election duty assignments.

Reluctance Among Medical Staff

The sudden notice has met with reluctance from the doctors and nurses, with the health department also expressing opposition to sending them for poll duties.