Chennai: With Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)-run Kodambakkam maternity hospital razed and the nearest UPHC shut on Sundays, residents are left without any immediate public healthcare access for a full day each week. The hospital was one among the three run by the civic body. “Spread across 20,000sqm, the building was demolished over the past couple of weeks. The detailed project report for the new building has been prepared. However, the tender will be floated only after the elections,” said GCC executive engineer Senthil Kumar.The maternity hospital was beneficial to women in the locality. “Nurses regularly conducted home visits, monitored pregnancies, and provided essential antenatal care, including iron and folic acid supplements,” said Vasanthi Kannan, a resident of Kodambakkam. “The new hospital must be constructed without any delay after the elections,” she said.Patients now must go to the govt hospital in Saidapet or private centres, increasing travel time and medical costs. “The UPHC in the locality is also closed on Sundays. So we don’t have any quick access to emergency care,” said Vasanthi. A nurse working in the UPHC on Corporation Colony Road, requesting anonymity, told TOI that they do not function on Sundays. “We are operational only six days a week from 8am to 4pm,” she said.Ameerkhan, health activist, convenor of People’s Health Movement, said, “UPHCs function throughout the week. But steps have to be taken to extend intermediate care and not cut short of it. Patients don’t get appointments on Sundays to visit a UPHC. Even if they do, it is only during a moment of emergency or to provide last-mile healthcare,” he said.Local councillor Karthika Baskaran said,”I will speak with the health dept and ensure the UPHC functions on all days.” City health officer M Jagadeesan said the maternity hospital building was demolished due to its old age and metro work. He added that construction of a new facility would be taken up after the elections and that he would look into the UPHC issue.
