A shame in the name of a hospital. Review on Columbia Asia Hospital - Whitefield - Bangalore

If you’re reading this, please have the patience and take some time to read through this entirely because trust me you’ll want to know.

Columbia Asia is nothing but a greedy, money-grabbing entity. A disgrace in the name of medical services. Dr. Nandakumar Jairam - if you’re reading this, shame on you for managing and operating your hospitals like it’s a money-making business. People like you should never be allowed to be in the field of medicine, to begin with.

This review is to bring light to what my family witnessed and was put through in the last few weeks of admitting my grandmother at Columbia Asia Whitefield. From the moment we stepped foot in it was made clear that all they cared about was making money because all they cared about is we pay for services even before had received the service. Is this what the medical profession has come down to? Is this etiquette that’s taught at medical school? Well, in my opinion, you don’t even need to go to school to know these things. The harassment to pay the bills every single day is atrocious here at Columbia Asia. You take pride in being one of the best hospitals in the world and you’re nothing but a money-hungry organization that’s abusing your power and manipulating vulnerable, grieving families.

My grandmother was recommended a neurosurgeon - Dr. Vinayaka M and truth be told he’s probably the worst doctor I’ve ever witnessed to date, has no bedside manners, is insensitive, is unprofessional(is never on time to any of his appts). Mind you my grandmother was 80 yrs going through some major health issues which turned out to be risky. He left no stones unturned when he started recommending procedures and then saying he couldn’t guarantee the outcomes. As a doctor, you should be knowing the consequences of what you do considering the age and history of the patient. He didn’t seem to care about her well-being or the family’s vulnerability. In fact, he misused his power and took advantage of the situation. One night he showed up at 11:30 pm and woke up my grandmother so he could get his daily check-in. Does anyone in their right sense of mind do this with a senior patient who’s been diagnosed with such a serious ailment? Why did he do that? Because he couldn’t be professional enough to show up and do his job when he was supposed to in the morning. In my opinion, a doctor should be able to pick up on a patient’s well-being by just looking at them but no. Dr. Vinayaka had us telling him what we think the issues and concerns were. What is he charging for? Oh and let’s not even forget the fact that this hospital gives you options for the rooms like it’s some sort of a hotel. They charge you an arm and a leg and the room doesn’t even come with a nurse. Ridiculous! I’ve never in my entire life seen a hospital that doesn’t provide a nurse. Forget a nurse, the room doesn’t even come with monitors. Is this a joke? What are you even doing running a hospital Mr. Jairam?

Moving forward, my grandmother had a brain stroke that none of them detected till much later. Again, what kind of a doctor or nurse doesn’t pick up on this? Do we have to tell you to do your job? Then why pay you? I know people who’ve had strokes but have never seen doctors recommending physiotherapy within 2 days of having a stroke. Dr. Vinayaka did just that! Again finding ways to charge exorbitant fees. At first, we were sent two female physiotherapists which were fine but then they proceeded to send male ones. Now imagine having a male physiotherapist work on an 80yo fragile woman who’s been through so much pain and trauma? Are you out of your mind? Here is where things get messy. RAVI KIRAN KALUVA was sent to work with my grandmother and he being unprofessional he is decided to pick her up all at once without even considering her age or condition and that’s what worsened my grandmother’s condition. Dr. Vinayaka wants us to believe that it wasn’t their fault but I know for a fact that it was them. They destroyed her physically! She was let go to go home within two days after. Again WHICH HOSPITAL RELEASES A BRAIN STROKE PATIENT SO SOON? Dr. Vinayaka told us that she’s perfectly fine and could go home. When questioned, he told them to Google brain stroke as Google has all the answers. Are you kidding me, Dr. Vinayaka? Why even be a doctor if that is how to treat your patients? Why do we even go to a hospital when Google can answer our questions?! SHAME ON YOU and SHAME ON YOUR MEDICAL PRACTICE. You shouldn’t be banned from practicing with the ethics you have going.

For those of you who are reading this, please know that my grandmother didn’t make it. She passed after two days of coming home. Why? Why did Dr. Vinayaka tell my family that it was okay to take her home? That she was fully recovered? That she had no issues? Did he know that they had gone wrong somewhere? Did he know that she wasn’t going to make it? She wasn’t the same strong woman I knew anymore. She couldn’t recognize most of us, couldn’t speak, couldn’t see, couldn’t move. It’s the most painful thing I’ve had to witness and trust me I’ve witnessed a lot.

They sent her in an ambulance without stroke care equipment. Again, what kind of a hospital does this? Do you not know the condition of the roads in Bangalore? No neck brace or any other equipment that would put her at ease. In fact, that drive home might have deteriorated her condition. Unprofessional handlers working the ambulance. But what do they care? The first thing they did was make sure we paid. Their priorities are heinous.

I’ve also never seen a hospital charge their in-patients for their gloves, masks, shoe covers, and gowns. Is this not a basic requirement at a hospital? We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and Columbia Asia thinks their patients are responsible to pay for their supplies. They charged us for an N-95 but all they did was wear disposable masks. Is this not cheating? Why are we paying for your gloves? Do you not wear gloves on the regular? Is this not a requirement for your job? You people disgust me! Swindling and ripping off families who will do anything to save their loved ones.

They charged an arm and a leg for the adult diapers and wipes. Can every family afford this? Is it fair to be charging such exorbitant prices especially when the economy is doing so badly?

This is in no particular order because there’s just so much that needs to be said. The first thing hospitals need to do is run a covid test which they did but never gave us the test results. Is this Evel legal? My family didn’t realize this until after my grandmother’s passing and had to go to the hospital late at night to pick them up. Is this not the hospital’s job to have given us the results right after they received them? They also didn’t bother giving us the second brain MRI reports until we asked for it which was after her passing. What are they hiding? Does a hospital function this way? Without sharing the patient's reports with the family? On being asked why this wasn’t given sooner, the front desk staff Shazia brushed it aside saying it’s because she wasn’t on duty. What the hell does that have to do with us getting our hands on the reports? Is she the only person who should be doing this? Isn’t it our right to get the reports so we know what we need to do? Again highly incompetent staff from the moment you step foot in. This hospital either needs to restructure and do their due diligence while hiring their staff including the doctors and nurses or just shut down.

Truth be told, none of these people will ever get a job anywhere else in the world. Only in India will this type of unprofessional, unethical behavior fly.

So do yourself a favor and take your loved ones elsewhere because Columbia Asia will only be the death of you. And STAY AWAY from DR VINAYAKA M and RAVIKIRAN KALUVA.

Losing a loved one is the hardest thing and by writing this I’m hoping to share our experience so this doesn’t have to be you in the future.