Latest news with #KEM
Hindustan Times
13-08-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
9.4k patients kept in the lurch as organ donations in state hospitals remain low
MUMBAI: For nearly two decades, private facilities have been overshadowing Maharashtra's government and BMC-run hospitals in cadaver organ donations in a gap so wide that it is costing lives, warn experts. Only a few government institutions, including Mumbai's JJ, KEM, Sion, and Nair hospitals, Pune's Sassoon Hospital, and AIIMS Nagpur, have retrieved organs over this period (Kiattisak - Since 2009, just 80 deceased donors have given 62 livers, 19 hearts, two lungs, one small bowel, and one skin donation at state-run hospitals, according to data from the Regional cum State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO-SOTTO). Only a few government institutions, including Mumbai's JJ, KEM, Sion, and Nair hospitals, Pune's Sassoon Hospital, and AIIMS Nagpur, have retrieved organs over this period. While awareness has been increasing among donors, a hesitation remains among them. However, organ donors would be more willing to donate if appropriate facilities were available, said Dr S K Mathur, a ZTCC president. In Mumbai, the KEM hospital in Parel is equipped to conduct a multi-organ cadaver transplant. Meanwhile, Sion and Nair hospitals primarily focus on cadaver kidney transplants, according to the ZTCC (Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre) Mumbai. 'The government hospitals have not established high-quality surgical and transplant centres in the vicinity, which has led to the low organ donations we observe,' said Dr Mathur. 'The hospitals have not upgraded the facilities and seem not to be interested in doing so. When a donor agrees to any form of donation, they want to understand where the organs might go. Without a functional transplant centre, it is not possible for the hospital staff to assure the donors.' Dr Mathur also added that current organ donations only meet the requirements of 10% of patients in Maharashtra, and government hospitals focusing on donations would drastically help save this. In stark contrast, private hospitals recorded 101 donors in 2022, leading to 290 organ retrievals, compared to just four donors and eight retrievals in government hospitals in the same year. The gap continued in 2023, with private hospitals reporting 138 donors and 381 organ retrievals, while government hospitals had 10 donors and 30 retrievals. In 2024, private hospitals recorded 142 donors and 416 retrievals, whereas government facilities had 30 donors and 42 retrievals. ZTCC does not allow retrieved organs to be utilised by private hospitals to avoid poaching. Yet this year, until August 12, the state has recorded 33 cadaver donations, a majority of which were from private hospitals. Even with a recent uptick in organ donations from government facilities, experts warn that the numbers remain far from adequate to meet patient needs. The waiting list for transplants in Maharashtra has swollen from 8,240 patients last year to 9,423 this year, including 7,271 in need of kidneys and 1,883 requiring livers. 'We have now formed a panel to review the methods, the rules and process of how to conduct organ donation after circulatory death. That will help the condition drastically,' said Dr Mathur. Despite regular efforts from the government and ZTCC, donation rates are still minimal. Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, dean of JJ hospital, said, 'The patient load and the family's unwillingness to donate organs often lead to a reduced number of donations in government hospitals. There is enough equipment, and a transplant coordinator is already present. However, many people who come to the hospital fail to get convinced of organ donation due to a few beliefs.' The state public health department has stepped up efforts and is carrying out an organ donation fortnight in the state from August 3 to August 15, with a range of awareness drives and outreach activities. The drives are aimed at dispelling fear and misconceptions around organ donations. The department had also issued directives to state government hospitals to promote and develop organ retrieval capabilities. 'Private hospitals have transplant coordinators and mechanisms in place for brain-stem death donations. However, many government hospitals lack that. We need to start transplant mechanisms as such in government hospitals to increase donations,' said Dr Pradnya Bendre, Professor and Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Wadia Hospital. 'It is a long process to increase awareness, and it must be done regularly. Well-established transplant departments and ICUs are trained in brain stem death certification. Government hospitals need to be developed at par with corporate hospitals.'
Hindustan Times
06-08-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Patients in peril as KEM runs out of haemophilia drugs
MUMBAI: KEM Hospital, Mumbai's largest civic-run hospital, has been turning away patients with haemophilia, as it has run out of drugs to treat the condition. Among them was a young woman who couldn't deliver her baby at the hospital, as it lacked Factor VII needed to arrest postpartum bleeding. The woman gave birth at Nanavati Hospital, a private hospital, on Thursday, after purchasing two vials of clotting factors, costing ₹46,000 each. KEM Hospital, Parel in Mumbai. (HT Photo) The crisis at KEM's haemophilia department was triggered by a policy change, which saw the National Health Mission (NHM) halting funding to tertiary hospitals (Like KEM, those with medical colleges and other advanced facilities) in September last year. Since then, the central government has released funds exclusively for district hospitals, routed through state governments. Ironically, even though the Maharashtra government recently procured 6,130 vials of extended half-life Factor VIII, the drug remains out of reach for the 980 haemophilia patients under KEM's care. These include patients who receive Anti-Hemophilic Factor (AHF) regularly, for haemophilia and other coagulation disorders, as well as surgical and trauma care patients and pregnant women. KEM's day care centre saw 15,438 patients in 2024. The 6,130 vials, procured by the state for ₹4.49 crore, cost ₹7,339 each, compared to the exorbitant price in private hospitals. These vials will be distributed among 19 district hospitals across the state, including Thane, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur. However, district hospitals lack designated haematologists and are not equipped to treat patients beyond the initial emergency dose. 'None of these hospitals have doctors trained to treat haemophilia patients. After receiving factor treatment in a district hospital, there is no scope for continued treatment or monitoring complications. KEM is the only comprehensive treatment facility in the entire state,' said Jigar Kotecha, secretary of the Mumbai chapter of the Haemophilia Society, a non-profit. More critically, these district centres cannot transfer the medication to KEM Hospital, thanks to the NHM's policy shift, which marked tertiary medical colleges as 'not recommended' for centrally funded AHF supplies. After several requests from KEM's dean Sangeeta Ravat, the Thane District Hospital wrote back on July 16, stating, 'Since a large number of new patients are being registered at the District General Hospital, Thane, and a limited amount of Anti-Hemophilic Factors are being received from the state level, it will not be possible to continue providing these factors to KEM.' The only recourse for KEM is to source AHF supplies through donations from NGOs and other organisations working with haemophilia patients. One patient, scheduled for knee surgery, procured the medication from a district hospital in Latur. When the acute shortage of AHF medication at KEM Hospital was placed before the state health department, government authorities said it was the responsibility of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide funds for the drugs, as it was a civic-run institution. On January 3, joint director, National Health Mission in Mumbai, Dr Govind Patil Chaudhary, wrote to Dr Vipin Sharma, additional municipal commissioner (Health), BMC, requesting that the corporation provide funds and medicines to support haemophilia patients at KEM, as the hospital had been excluded from NHM eligibility. 'We want more state funding, like Gujarat, which has a ₹250-crore fund for 3,300 haemophilia patients, while we have none. We want the government to prioritise extended half-life factors over plasma-derived ones — they are more effective and cost-efficient — and most importantly, restock KEM with essential medication so we can receive life-saving care,' said another member of the Haemophilia Society. Assistant municipal commissioner (health) Vipin Sharma and deputy municipal commissioner, Sharad Ughade, did not respond to phone calls or texts from HT.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
With 7k women, Mumbai's KEM Hospital starts BMC's largest and most expensive clinical trial for breast cancer diagnosis
Mumbai: KEM Hospital has started its largest and most expensive BMC-funded trials with 7,000 women aimed as participants, which will potentially change how breast cancer is diagnosed at the hospital. The trial, which will last for 12 to 28 months, involves a small, portable device with a high-resolution thermal sensor powered by artificial intelligence. The hospital has also started a dedicated 15-bed ward for all breast-related ailments, 14 years after starting the city's first breast clinic at a civic hospital. Unlike traditional mammography, the machine in trial involves no physical contact or breast compression, eliminating the discomfort associated with X-ray-based screening. During the procedure, the patient is alone in a private room, seated at a fixed distance from the thermal imaging device with curtains for privacy. The exact costs were unavailable until press time, but hospital officials said this is the largest BMC-funded trial. The machine, developed by Bangalore-based NIRAMAI Health Analytix, costs Rs 50 lakh and has taken up residence free of cost at KEM Hospital as part of a clinical validation under BMC's startup incubation programme. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Florencio Varela (ver precio) Verisure Más información "We are moving forward with it only on the condition that the machine will remain at KEM Hospital if trials show favourable results," said Dr Shilpa Rao, associate professor at KEM's general surgery department, who is also the principal investigator for the trial. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai She added that thermal imaging has been around since the 2000s, but it detects any source of heat, including infections and inflammation, which can lead to false positives. "This can result in unnecessary psychological distress and economic burden for patients," said Dr Rao. In this case, the machine uses AI to scan heat patterns on the chest, looking over 400,000 tiny temperature points to detect any unusual changes. The report comes back in 24 hours, and the algorithm produces a breast health score that tells doctors if it is malignant, benign, or requires further evaluation. Everyone taking part in the trial will get all three tests: a mammogram, an ultrasound, and the AI-powered scan. Doctors will then compare the results to see how well the new technology works. Dr Rao was also struggling to have a dedicated ward for breast treatment since 2010. "Perhaps having a woman as a dean made the difference now," she said. KEM Dean Dr Sangeeta Ravat said, "The issue is very close to my heart, and breast cancer patients need a special ward as they are already immunocompromised. There were some problems; it couldn't happen before, but now they have been resolved," she said. Dr Varsha Kulkarni, Department Head of General Surgery, who was instrumental in having the ward up and running, said, "Women's health needs priority."
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
After months of delay, Maharashtra approves ₹45 crore for haemophilia drugs
Mumbai: After months of disruption caused by the Centre halting the supply of life-saving anti-haemophilic factors (AHFs), the Maharashtra government has sanctioned ₹45 crore for the urgent procurement of clotting factor injections used in the treatment of haemophilia. This includes Factor VII and Factor VIII (both plasma-derived and recombinant forms), Factor IX, and FEIBA (Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant Complex). These essential drugs are critical for preventing fatal bleeds in patients with haemophilia, a rare genetic blood-clotting disorder. An AHF is a protein naturally produced in the human body that plays a crucial role in blood clotting. The state's approval, formalised in a government resolution dated June 18, covers the purchase of over 100,000 vials of AHFs. This includes 25,147 vials of Factor VIII, 21,835 vials of Recombinant Factor VIII, 18,520 vials of Factor IX, and 4,605 vials of FEIBA. These medications fall under the government's essential drug list and will be distributed across Maharashtra through designated day-care haemophilia centres. The intervention comes in response to a policy shift by the Union health ministry, which earlier redirected funding from tertiary medical colleges to district hospitals. Previously, centrally allocated funds were used by institutions like Mumbai's KEM Hospital to procure AHFs. However, under the revised guidelines, civic-run institutions such as KEM no longer qualify for central support. This has crippled services at KEM, despite the hospital treating over 950 haemophilia patients from across Maharashtra. In one instance, a 29-year-old IT professional from Mira Road, suffering from severe joint and muscle bleeding, was turned away by the Thane Civil Hospital and referred to KEM. Due to critical shortages, he received only two units of Factor VIII—far below the therapeutic dose based on body weight—sharply increasing the risk of long-term disability. In cases of internal or brain bleeding, such delays could be fatal. Crucial policy shift Dr Mahendra Kendre, assistant director (blood cell) at the Directorate of Health Services, said the state's decision marks a crucial policy shift to safeguard haemophilia care. 'The withdrawal of central funding from medical colleges like KEM disrupted access to life-saving treatment,' he said. 'With this dedicated state budget and procurement policy, we are ensuring patients are no longer left vulnerable and that treatment continuity is maintained across Maharashtra.' As per the new directive, AHFs must now be stocked at all haemophilia daycare centres across the state. These drugs are significantly more expensive than standard medicines—some costing up to ₹40,000 per vial—and are essential to prevent life-threatening bleeds and irreversible joint damage. While the state's intervention brings relief, systemic flaws still threaten treatment continuity. 'Companies bid without maintaining stock, and the system allows it. Patients are paying the price,' said Jigar Kotecha, secretary of the Mumbai chapter of the Haemophilia Society, an NGO. Frequent tender failures and delivery delays have left patients vulnerable. The new budget and streamlined procurement policy aim to fix these gaps, ensuring steady access to life-saving drugs and preventing further avoidable harm. The Haemophilia Society is demanding a more robust procurement framework, timely stock replenishment, and the inclusion of advanced therapies such as extended half-life factors and non-factor treatments for patients who develop inhibitors. In a letter to the health ministry, the NGO also urged the government not to deny AHF supplies to hospitals like KEM until a capable alternative is formally designated. 'We are not asking for luxuries; we are asking for survival,' Kotecha wrote. With no dedicated civil hospital in Mumbai and tertiary centres excluded from federal schemes, advocacy groups have urged Maharashtra to adopt successful models from states like Gujarat and Telangana. Until then, patients remain reliant on emergency fixes and fragile supply chains.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Surge in viral, respiratory infections after pre-monsoon showers
MUMBAI: The city is witnessing a marked rise in seasonal infections—ranging from high-grade fever and dry cough to throat irritation, fatigue and respiratory distress—following a sudden spell of pre-monsoon rainfall over the past five days. Health experts and clinicians across the city have flagged this uptick as a direct consequence of erratic weather, increased humidity and stagnant water accumulation, all of which create a fertile environment for viral and bacterial growth, particularly affecting the respiratory tract. Mumbai witnessed an intense spell of unseasonal rainfall this week, marking the city's wettest May since 2021. Between Tuesday and Thursday morning, the Santacruz observatory recorded 34 mm of rainfall, nearly four times the city's average for the entire month of May. 'This shift from dry heat to high humidity within days disrupts the body's ability to regulate temperature and fight infections,' said Dr B A Chaurasia, consultant in internal medicine at Kokilaben Hospital. 'We are now seeing a consistent increase in respiratory infections—particularly upper respiratory tract issues like viral pharyngitis, bronchitis and flu.' Public hospitals such as KEM, Nair and Sion have reported a 30–40% increase in outpatient consultations in the past week. Many patients complain of lingering fatigue and a persistent cough that lasts beyond the usual viral cycle. 'At Sion Hospital alone, we've seen a significant jump in OPD cases, especially those involving fever, throat pain and severe fatigue,' said Dr Mohan Joshi, dean of the BMC-run Sion Hospital. 'While most cases are viral and self-limiting, a few patients—particularly senior citizens and those with diabetes or asthma—have developed complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, requiring hospitalisation.' Dr Raj Kishore Agarwal, senior consultant in general medicine at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, said, 'In just five days, we've seen a noticeable shift in patient profiles. What started as isolated flu cases is now a wave—especially in the elderly and those with diabetes and asthma. Fluctuating weather stresses the immune system and enables rapid viral spread.' Clinically, such transitional weather patterns weaken mucosal barriers in the respiratory tract, making it easier for airborne pathogens to invade. The combination of moisture-laden air, cooler evenings and damp clothing after exposure to rain further aggravates the condition. 'Respiratory viruses thrive in humid environments,' said Dr Gautam Bhansali, consultant physician at Bombay Hospital. 'The pre-monsoon rain has created ideal conditions for rhinoviruses and influenza strains to circulate widely. These pathogens survive longer in moist air and spread faster in crowded urban settings like Mumbai.' From an epidemiological standpoint, pre-monsoon periods have increasingly become fertile ground for infections that previously peaked only in winter or during the monsoon. Experts suggest that this change may be a direct outcome of climate variability, which is expanding and shifting traditional disease windows. The BMC has urged residents to remain cautious and follow preventive protocols such as hand hygiene, mask usage and timely vaccination—especially for those at higher risk. 'People must understand that even short-term rains can create long-term health impacts,' said a senior BMC health officer. 'We are reinforcing community-level alerts and ramping up our fever surveillance network.' Doctors are also advising residents to avoid self-medication and seek professional help if symptoms persist beyond three to five days. They warn that ignoring flu-like symptoms could lead to complications, particularly in those with chronic respiratory or metabolic conditions. With IMD forecasting more unseasonal showers in the coming week and an early monsoon onset expected by May 27, healthcare providers are bracing for continued spikes in seasonal infections. As the city adjusts to this sudden shift in weather, clinicians emphasise the importance of early diagnosis, rest, hydration and cautious exposure to rain and damp environments.
