After the recent water crisis in Chennai, the doctors are now praying for rains as they are buying water from water trucks to conduct surgeries in the hospital.
Chairmanof Sudar Hospitals in Chennai, T.N. Ravishankar said that treating patientswill depend on the mercy of God if water supplies in India's fourth-largestmetropolis aren't replenished shortly. He said that piped water at his hospitalshas already dried up and even the more expensive water trucks on which they aredependent might be unavailable soon in Tamil Nadu.
Ravishankarfurther stated that the cost escalation will have to be passed on to patientswho will have to spend more as there is no other option left.
Almostall the hospitals in Chennai are now completely dependent on the more than5,000 privately owned tankers that ferry water around the city every day.According to the Private Water Tanker Lorry Owners' Association, if thesituation of water crisis continues after a month then it will not be possiblefor them to supply water even to the one who would pay highest amount of money.
Theprice of a 12,000-liter water truck soared from Rs. 1200 in April to Rs. 6000since the shortages of water began. According to reports, the water shortagesrisk further hurting the already struggling state-run health system. India spendsonly around 1% of GDP on healthcare and aims to increase to 2.5% by 2025. When compared,nations whose entire populations have access to health services spend as muchas 6% of GDP on insurance and healthcare according to WHO.
However,Indian Meteorological Department said that rainfall in Southern India this weekwas 30% below normal levels.
