Ailing Hospital Part 2: Tensions Run High At Mumbai's Rajawadi Hospital As Patient Overload Sparks Frequent Brawls And Chaos
Mumbai: Last year, a 27-year-old resident doctor at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar was allegedly assaulted by a relative of a deceased patient. An FIR was filed in connection with the incident. However, this was not an isolated case assaults on doctors and hospital staff by patients’ relatives have become alarmingly common, especially during night shifts.
Many such incidents go unreported, often because grieving families are either too distressed or lack the means to take legal action.
“These confrontations have been happening for years. Unfortunately, most of the staff have become used to them,” said a resident doctor. “Such incidents instill fear among doctors and disturb the hospital environment, affecting the care of other patients.”
Social activist Prakash Wani, a member of Shiv Arogya Sena (UBT), shared that hospital staff frequently call him for help during tense situations. “I’ve had to visit the hospital at night several times to defuse conflicts. Rajawadi urgently needs stronger security arrangements,” he said. “Most patients come from slum areas and are often not fully aware of medical complications. In their frustration, they sometimes resort to violence.”
The hospital administration, including the medical superintendent, has acknowledged the problem. “This has been happening for a long time,” admitted an official. “But increasing security alone won’t solve it. Visitors must also change their mindset.”
Verbal altercations and physical clashes are common in high-pressure areas such as the trauma ward, ICU, and OPD registration counters. Long wait times, sudden deaths, and delayed treatment often trigger anxiety and aggression among patients' relatives.
In May 2025, Sanjay Dina Patil, Member of Parliament from Mumbai North East, wrote to the police urging them to strengthen security arrangements around the hospital.
Despite CCTV surveillance and the presence of guards, the limited number of security personnel and lack of an effective grievance redressal system means minor complaints often escalate quickly—raising serious concerns over staff safety and patient care.
Sachin Bhange, a former member of Rajawadi Hospital’s Dakshta Committee, said the Rugnamitra (Patient Friend) help desk has been shut for a long time. “Many first-time patients don’t know the process. The help desk, meant to assist them, is non-functional. Now, only a computer and chair remain inside,” said Bhange.
The hospital caters to thousands of patients from areas like Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Vidyavihar, Pant Nagar, Ramabai Nagar, Bhandup, and Kurla. Many also come from nearby slum clusters such as Netaji Nagar, Indira Nagar, Kamraj Nagar, Laxmi Baug, and Amrut Nagar—communities with limited or no access to private healthcare.
Rajawadi Hospital, a vital lifeline for residents in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs, sees a daily footfall of 2,500 to 3,000 patients in its Out-Patient Department (OPD), where registration begins at 8 a.m. Overcrowding during registration is a major issue. Although redevelopment and expansion plans are underway, the hospital administration has admitted that it will take at least five years to complete the new building if everything proceeds as planned.
Overcrowding frequently results in delays and frustration. Noor Khatoon, a Kurla resident who visited the hospital for her husband’s treatment, said it took nearly three hours for registration and consultation, followed by two hours to collect medicines. “I came in the morning and only left by 3 p.m.,” she said, pointing out the long queue at the pharmacy.
While medical services have improved significantly in recent years, infrastructure issues persist. “There’s no proper space for ambulances, staff vehicles, or visitors,” said Wani. “The premises often face traffic congestion and haphazard parking. Emergency access routes are frequently blocked, and ambulances are sometimes unable to reach the emergency ward on time.”
Currently, Rajawadi Hospital handles approximately 2,500 to 3000 OPD patients daily, with around 125 admissions in the In-Patient Department (IPD). It has a total of 596 beds, with only 11 ICU beds, 20 NICU beds, 10 trauma beds, and 6 dialysis stations.
To handle the growing patient load, the hospital is now expanding into a super-specialty facility. The proposed wing will add 424 beds, bringing the total capacity to 1,020. The facility will include advanced ICUs, a cath lab, oncology, cardiology, and other specialties.
Civic activist Chandrakant Haldankar from Ghatkopar emphasized the urgency of the expansion. “The work must be completed at the earliest to accommodate the rising number of patients,” he said.
“As one of the largest public hospitals in Mumbai’s eastern belt, Rajawadi Hospital is indispensable. But without swift administrative action to address safety, crowd control, and infrastructure, it risks being overwhelmed by the very pressure it was built to relieve,” said Wani.
The FPJ has started a series of investigative reports on the state of different public hospitals in Mumbai.
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