JJ Hospital Unveils Dedicated Respiratory OPD in Response to Alarming Pollution in Mumbai

The special OPD operates from 8 am to 12:30 pm to cater to respiratory patients. Beyond these hours, patients requiring immediate attention will be treated in the casualty or emergency wards. 

Amid escalating pollution concerns in Mumbai, JJ Hospital has taken proactive measures to address the potential surge in respiratory cases by establishing a dedicated Outpatient Department (OPD) ward. The move comes as pollution levels in the city and across Maharashtra continue to pose a threat to public health.

The hospital acknowledged the growing impact of pollution on respiratory health, stating, "Pollution is increasing in the country and Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai; hence, there is a possibility of an increase in the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases. In view of this, JJ Hospital of Mumbai has started a study on respiratory diseases."

The special OPD operates from 8 am to 12:30 pm to cater to respiratory patients. Beyond these hours, patients requiring immediate attention will be treated in the casualty or emergency wards. 

Also, the hospital authorities emphasised to closely monitor the situation by submitting a daily report on the number of respiratory patients to senior officials.

"If the number of respiratory patients increases, another separate ward will be opened," stated JJ Hospital.

In parallel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is set to lead a meeting to assess the current pollution situation in the state. The move aligns with ongoing efforts to address the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, as State Minister Deepak Kesarkar highlighted.

Kesarkar outlined various initiatives to combat air pollution, including road cleaning with water, sprinkling water on construction sites, and using fogging guns to reduce pollution levels.

The Bombay High Court has also intervened, issuing interim directions to the Maharashtra government and municipal authorities to tackle the worsening air pollution in Mumbai and surrounding areas.

In related updates, Dr Pallavi, Dean of JJ Hospital, has been appointed as the administrator of the Maharashtra Medical Council, and the Medical Education Department has appointed Dr Saple for a period of one year or until elections are held.

Furthermore, JJ Hospital has been selected by the Maharashtra government to implement 'sentinel surveillance' for acute respiratory illnesses in 17 of the most polluted cities in the state, including Mumbai.

Sentinel surveillance includes monitoring specific disease occurrences through a voluntary network of doctors, laboratories, and health departments. Its purpose is to assess the stability or change in the health levels of the population.