Just days after patients were relocated to the newly refurbished third floor of V. N. Desai Hospital in Santacruz (East), rainwater leakage was reported on the same level during the downpour on July 25. The incident has raised concerns over maintenance and safety standards in the civic-run hospital.
As part of ongoing renovation work, several departments and wards were temporarily closed or shifted. Patients were moved from the second floor to the third floor, which had only recently undergone refurbishment. However, the fresh leak during rains exposed structural shortcomings in the repaired section.
Hospital Staff Confirm Safety Lapses
According to hospital staff, the third floor lacks basic safety infrastructure. Despite recent renovation efforts, the leakage incident has put a spotlight on the quality and longevity of work carried out in public health facilities.
The hospital is currently undergoing multi-phase renovations, resulting in various departments being relocated across floors. The impact of this reshuffling has been felt most acutely by patients, many of whom are dependent on uninterrupted public healthcare.
Discarded Furniture Blocks Key Access Areas
Alongside the leak, scrapped hospital furniture and other discarded materials were seen dumped near the hospital lift. The presence of broken and unused items in patient movement areas adds to the clutter and poses potential hazards, particularly during high footfall hours.
The storage of unused materials in common areas also reflects a lack of proper waste management and safety protocol in high-risk zones, such as maternity and casualty wards.
Essential Facility for Economically Weaker Sections
V. N. Desai Hospital plays a vital role in providing medical services to residents of densely populated and economically weaker neighbourhoods including Vakola, Kalina, Kurla, Khar East, and Bandra East. With an OPD footfall of nearly 2,500 to 3,000 patients daily and a bed capacity of 254, the hospital remains a critical healthcare lifeline.
However, the combination of non-functional facilities, renovation-related disruptions, and visible safety issues such as leaking ceilings and obstructed access routes continue to affect patient care.
Hospital Faces Broader Operational Crisis
This is only one of several ongoing issues at V. N. Desai Hospital. Other departments, including radiology and the blood bank, have been rendered non-functional. Essential medicines are also reportedly out of stock, and several specialists and pharmacists are unavailable during night shifts.
While renovations were intended to improve infrastructure, the leakage and dumping of furniture point to larger challenges in quality control and hospital management. The situation highlights growing concerns about healthcare standards in one of Mumbai’s busiest public hospitals.
Attempts to contact Dr. Jairaj Acharya, Medical Superintendent of V. N. Desai Hospital, remained unanswered.
