THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A whopping 46 per cent of male bystanders who are supposed to give care and company to their friends or relatives admitted to hospitals enjoy a booze-induced, trouble-free sleep on hospital verandahs, finds a study. The bystander-tipplers easily find their ‘glassmates’ from the hospital itself and are ready to convert even bathrooms into mini bars!A study conducted by the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM) on hospital bystanders in the Medical College Hospital, SAT Hospital, Regional Cancer Centre and Sri Chitra Institute quotes male samples who say they resort to drinking to get a good sleep and not to get disturbed by mosquito bites.Bystanders mainly go to bars in the neighbourhood and form short-living associations between them.The study also mentions the rampant habits of smoking and chewing tobacco by bystanders that litter every nook and corner of the hospitals.“A number of recreational activities are seen practised by bystanders. Young men form gangs and go for movies regularly. During their absence, one in the gang will stay back in the hospital and look after the patients of others too. The next day, another bystander volunteers to stay back in the hospital, while the rest will go for a movie,’’ said Major Dinesh Bhaskaran, regional director of KSSM, who was an investigator in the study.But the case of women bystanders presents a stark contrast. Most of the women bystanders have a harrowing time in the hospital.“As much as 91 per cent of female bystanders are not feeling comfortable due to non-privacy, eve-teasing, staring and sexual harassment from male counterparts, lower-level staff and visitors etc…’’ finds the study.The remaining nine per cent feel only average comfort in the hospital, while none of the bystanders interviewed felt complete comfort.Interestingly, 75 per cent of women bystanders felt secure within the group of bystanders, while 25 per cent complained of problems within the group.The study finds that the patient-to-bystander ratio on the Medical College campus is 1:3 and it creates a lot of inconvenience to the patients and hospital staff.“There is a fluctuating minimum of 3,000 to 6,000 bystanders found on the premises and if visitors are included, it may go up to 10,000,’’ notes the study.
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