Health groups across the world ask Government to pay urgent attention to infection control in Sewri Hospital in Mumbai

Mumbai, August 2015

A large number of health organisations, TB groups, public health experts, physicians, nurses, human rights lawyers, trade unions, health activists and associations of healthcare workers have urged the government to pay urgent attention to infection control and prevention of TB transmission in Sewri TB Hospital Mumbai, the largest chest and TB hospital in Asia. The health groups' demand comes after the recent death of a TB-treating physician due to drug-resistant (DR-TB), which they cite as a tragic example of healthcare workers in Sewri Hospital losing their lives due to inadequate infection control measures. Over the years, several workers of Sewri Hospital have occupationally acquired DR- TB, and have developed active disease and become critically ill. The success of a TB Control Programme is dependent on healthy, motivated and experienced healthcare workers. Transmission of TB to healthcare workers results in a loss of skilled health care workers, they said.

Healthcare workers and staff working in the Sewri Hospital working in close proximity to patients are seen wearing – if at all -flimsy masks, completely inadequate as respiratory protective equipment. This is in contravention to the guidelines laid down by both the WHO as well as the Central TB Division which specify the necessity of using N-95 masks by healthcare workers in high risk settings.
In separate letters to Maharashtra Health Minister and Union health minister, the Health groups and experts have demanded that the N-95 respirator masks that are critical to protect the health and safety of healthcare workers in Sewri Hospital should be provided to them in adequate quantities. Patients should also be provided with surgical masks. Respirator fit testing and training programmes should also be organised in Sewri Hospital to ensure that healthcare workers are properly trained and motivated in the correct technique of using these masks to ensure their effectiveness.

Besides, healthcare workers should be regularly screened (bi-annually) for TB symptoms and provided access to early correct diagnosis (through drug sensitivity testing) and treatment for TB (including DR-TB drugs) free of cost. Workers eligible for compensation should include all those performing a service who are at risk of TB exposure (facility and community based), including those on contract and without formal remuneration, they demanded.  As the largest chest and TB hospital in Asia, the Sewri Hospital should be the benchmark, against which the services and facilities of the other TB hospitals and departments in the country should be measured, the health groups and experts said.