The Southern Railway has closed down the Christian Medical College’s (CMC) round-the-clock medical assistance helpdesk at the Katpadi Railway Station. The helpdesk has been functioning at the station since 2004.
On Friday, officials of Southern Railway asked the hospital to vacate the premises. The helpdesk was functioning on a 6x10 feet area at the station. On an average, 50 to 100 persons utilised the helpdesk services every day, a CMC official said.
He said the railway officials had in February asked them to clear the helpdesk but did not give the reason for the move. A few weeks ago, electricity supply for the helpdesk was disconnected.
CMC’s director Sunil Chandy had written a letter to the General Manager of Southern Railway seeking continuation of the service.
In the letter, Dr. Chandy said that the helpdesk was a public assistance facility to help passengers travelling by train to CMC for treatment. Manned by staff on shift basis, the desk provided advice to patients and was also equipped with wheelchairs and trolleys. It was inaugurated by R. Velu, then Union Minister of State for Railways. The hospital incurred a monthly expense of Rs. 80,000 for rent, electricity and salary of staff.
He pointed out that they have been asked to vacate the premises with no reasons ascribed, and his attempts to reach the authorities did not succeed. Being a free service, the helpdesk assisted patients before they entered the hospital, he said, and urged the official to retain the service. CMC has given the railways space for a reservation desk on the hospital premises free of cost, he added.
Officials of the Southern Railway said as per the Railway Board, there was no policy to allow functioning of such a helpdesk at the railway stations. “There is no policy for allowing such facilities on a long-term basis. They can apply and set up helpdesk for short-terms such as for a week or 10 days,” an official said.
He added that they had floated Expressions of Interest for setting up an emergency medical care centre at Katpadi but CMC did not participate in it.
Railway official says EoIs floated for medical care centre at Katpadi and CMC did not participate in it
