Plea for free treatment to poor, restore multi-specialty status to Ahmedabad VS hospital

By A Representative
Following Gujarat High Court stricture on the state government over high death rate of Covid-19 patients in Ahmedabad, especially in the Civil Hospital, independent board members of the second biggest hospital of the city controlled by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Vadilal Sarabhai (VS), have asked the VS management and AMC “to decisively act in restarting the 1,155-bed VS, restoring its multi-speciality status, which existed prior to 2012”.
Even as welcoming the Gujarat High Court order, which also directs the state government to open up 700 beds in VS for Covid 19 patients, the independent board members -- Jay Sheth, Dr. Nishith Shah, Rupa Chinai and Brijesh Chinai – insisted, “As the VS has a capacity of 1,155 beds totally, we strongly urge AMC to open up additional 455 beds for management of general medical care of poor patients.”
Asking the VS management to “immediately move in restoring beds, equipment and staff so that poor patients receive free treatment and quality services in keeping with the trust deeds and commitment made by AMC”, the independent board members said, “The purpose of a 'lockdown' is to stagger the flow of patients and give the administration time to augment health facilities.”
“Since 2012 we have repeatedly and strongly urged AMC to prepare itself for this very situation where the poor will be in acute crisis if it shuts down services at VS”, they said, adding, “Our pleas for restoring the status of VS were taken to the Charity Commissioner in 2013 and thereafter to the Gujarat High Court where our matter remains currently pending.”

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