Elderly patient had to crawl up stairs due to lift being non-functional at Mumbai's KEM Hospital

A video has gone viral on social media showing a 78-year-old elderly patient having to crawl up the stairs at Mumbai's King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital due to a non-functional lift. According to an NDTV report, the elderly patient has a plaster on his right leg and was seen attempting to climb the stone stairs of the hospital's orthopedic centre by sliding backwards.

The incident occurred at the hospital located in Mumbai's Parel area. The viral 37-second video shows a 78-year-old man named Sahadev Kadam. He is wearing a light blue shirt, shorts, and a knit cap. In the video, he is seen using his right hand on the stairs while holding the metal railing with his left hand. His right lower leg is in a plaster, forcing him to climb the stairs by pulling one leg at a time backwards. Other people are also seen passing through these narrow stairs, and at the end of the video, a voice can be heard saying "Thamba jara" in Marathi, which means "wait a moment".

Following the emergence of this incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country's richest civic body, has ordered an inquiry. The hospital is managed by the BMC. The inquiry will investigate lapses in patient care and the alternative arrangements made for patients after the only lift in the orthopedic building was closed for replacement. According to officials, a factual report has been sought within 10 days, and a notice has also been served to the head of the concerned hospital unit.

Hospital officials stated that the lift in the orthopedic building was approximately 39 years old. Due to wear and tear, the lift was breaking down frequently, and continuing its use could have posed an accident risk. According to reports, this lift has been closed since August, although the purchase order for its replacement was issued as early as February 2023. Hospital authorities have attributed the delay to the difficulties faced by inpatients, especially those with limited mobility.

The work of replacing the lift and repairing the lift shaft is being carried out by the hospital's civil engineering department. This incident has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by elderly and injured patients when lifts are non-functional.

King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital is a well-known government hospital in Mumbai. It is located in the Parel area of Mumbai and is managed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The hospital provides various medical services and is one of Mumbai's vital public health institutions.