Charity care at PGH

A combination of factors such as decrease in the Zoroastrian population and a demographical shift of people from south Bombay to the northern suburbs were cited as possible reasons for the reduction in the number of patients treated at The Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit Parsee General Hospital (BDPPGH), mentioned its 101st annual general report for the year 2013-2014. A total of 2,533 in-patients were treated at the BDPPGH during the pertinent year, of which 48.22% were free and subsidized cases. Women and children accounted for 55.82% of the patients, the report notes. The average length of stay of free and subsidized patients was 28 days, while paying patients stayed for 12.7 days, working out to an average of 17.26 days per patient.
Sadly reflecting the declining population are the statistics on births and deaths at the BDPPGH. In the current year there were just 27 births as against 229 deaths. Comparative figures for the previous year are 20 births and 212 deaths.

The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital

The large volume of charity care provided amounting to approximately Rs 1,045.50 lakhs out of a total expenditure of Rs 2,167.75 lakhs has resulted in an operating deficit of Rs 836.18 lakhs. However, as compared to the previous year’s deficit being Rs 981.37 lakhs, BDPPGH was able to reduce the deficit and improve cash flow through optimal utilization of resources despite the increase in prices on all fronts, the report mentions.
The total cost of free medicines supplied to underprivileged patients in the Hospital and to outpatients worked out to Rs 90.41 lakhs. The BDPPGH maintains an Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) as well as a Poor Patient Subsidy Fund (PPSF). During the year Rs 179.57 lakhs were spent from the former to provide health care services to indigent and weaker sections of patients, both in-patients and outpatients under provisions of the Bombay High Court order of August 17, 2006. For those members of the community whose income exceeded the limits set by the Court but who were in financial distress, the BDPPGH dipped into its PPSF to the tune of Rs 327.99 lakhs to provide medical services, the report states.
Even though the amount of donations received was higher than in the previous year — Rs 259.29 lakhs as against Rs 221.37 lakhs — the report reveals that the BDPPGH is finding it difficult to maintain the present level of charity care. Also, the annual operating deficit is a cause for concern. The need to maintain a technology edge as compared to the health care offered by other elite hospitals in Bombay through regular upgrading of equipment and services despite the current inflationary trends, including the cost of medicines as well as spiraling food and labor costs, makes it an uphill task for president Homa Petit, vice president Aban Petit, joint honorary secretaries Hector Mehta and Zarir Bhathena, treasurer Ardeshir Vazifdar and members of the executive committee.
In an effort to augment its income the management is planning to set up a separate, cosmopolitan, state of the art hospital on its vast grounds. The Rs 170 crore project received a fillip when Hong Kong based businesspersons and philanthropists Jal and Pervin Shroff promised Rs 120 crores for the project. Once sufficient funds are pledged, work is expected to start.