Chennai Residents Grapple with Healthcare Void After Maternity Hospital Demolition
Residents in Chennai's Kodambakkam area are confronting a severe public healthcare access crisis following the demolition of a Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)-run maternity hospital and the closure of the nearest Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) on Sundays. This dual setback has left the community without any accessible public healthcare facilities throughout the entire day on weekends, exacerbating medical burdens for local families.
Demolition of Vital Maternity Facility
The Kodambakkam maternity hospital, one of only three such facilities operated by the civic body, was recently razed to the ground. GCC executive engineer Senthil Kumar confirmed that the building, which spanned an impressive 20,000 square meters, was demolished over the past couple of weeks due to its old age and ongoing metro work in the area. "The detailed project report for the new building has been prepared. However, the tender will be floated only after the elections," Kumar stated, indicating a delay in reconstruction efforts.
This hospital played a crucial role in providing essential maternal healthcare services to women in the locality. Vasanthi Kannan, a resident of Kodambakkam, highlighted its significance: "Nurses regularly conducted home visits, monitored pregnancies, and provided essential antenatal care, including iron and folic acid supplements." She urgently appealed, "The new hospital must be constructed without any delay after the elections," emphasizing the community's reliance on this facility.
Sunday Closure of UPHC Compounds the Crisis
Compounding the healthcare gap, the UPHC in the locality remains closed on Sundays, leaving residents without quick access to emergency care. Vasanthi Kannan pointed out, "The UPHC in the locality is also closed on Sundays. So we don't have any quick access to emergency care." A nurse working at the UPHC on Corporation Colony Road, who requested anonymity, corroborated this, telling TOI, "We are operational only six days a week from 8am to 4pm."
This closure contradicts standard practices, as noted by Ameerkhan, health activist and convenor of People's Health Movement. "UPHCs function throughout the week. But steps have to be taken to extend intermediate care and not cut it short. Patients don't get appointments on Sundays to visit a UPHC. Even if they do, it is only during a moment of emergency or to provide last-mile healthcare," he explained, stressing the need for consistent service availability.
Increased Travel and Financial Burden on Patients
With the maternity hospital demolished and the UPHC inaccessible on Sundays, patients are now forced to seek medical care at the government hospital in Saidapet or private healthcare centers. This shift significantly increases both travel time and medical costs for residents, placing an additional strain on families already grappling with healthcare needs.
Local councillor Karthika Baskaran has pledged to address the issue, stating, "I will speak with the health department and ensure the UPHC functions on all days." Meanwhile, City Health Officer M Jagadeesan acknowledged the situation, noting that the maternity hospital building was demolished due to its old age and metro work. He assured that construction of a new facility would be taken up after the elections and committed to looking into the UPHC closure issue.
The healthcare void in Kodambakkam underscores broader challenges in public health infrastructure, with residents calling for swift action to restore and enhance medical services in the area.
