Mumbai, Oct 1: A 50-year-old patient, Ayaz Qureshi, from Kurla East faced severe hardship at BMC’s Khan Bahadur Bhabha Hospital in Kurla West when he was denied medicines after midnight on September 30.
Qureshi, who arrived at the hospital around 2 a.m. with a severe headache, was prescribed tablets but could not obtain them as all four pharmacy windows were shut. Despite his repeated pleas, doctors directed him to buy medicines from outside — where most private pharmacies were also closed at that hour.
Frustrated, his relatives staged a protest, forcing the hospital administration to call the police. Local activist Akil Khatik, who intervened, alleged that such pharmacy closures at night are a recurring issue.
Hospital officials later explained that the night-shift pharmacy staffer had been absent due to illness, leading to a two-day closure. Dr. Padmashree Ahire, Medical Superintendent, admitted the lapse but assured that the pharmacy is now operating normally.
