Rise in patients due to toxic air, officials told to compile data

GURUGRAM: The dense smog that engulfed and choked NCR last week, pushed the region into a health emergency. Its repercussions were felt in the Millennium City too, with residents complaining of incessant coughing, breathlessness, skin allergies, eye infections among others.


While the administration implemented measures under the graded response action plan (GRAP) to control deteriorating air quality, patients flooding the OPD of district’s civil hospital is ceasing to see a downward trend. According to the doctors, there has been around 50% increase in the number of patients coming for treatment for pollution-related diseases and health conditions this year.

Thus, in an attempt to help patients suffering due to the increasing pollution levels, the health department has directed officials to compile the data of number of patients coming to civil hospital for pollution-related diseases. The data, officials claimed, will help in analysing the impact of air pollution on health and whether or not the steps taken under GRAP is helping or not.

Acting on the directives, civil hospital has started sending daily reports to the health department which is being complied to understand the load of patients and diseases being reported. “We’ve been sharing daily records with the government and administration. There has been an increase in cases of respiratory diseases, skin allergies, and eye infection. There was a spike in the number of patients after Diwali. The number is coming down now with the improvement in air quality,” a health department official said.

According to the staff at civil hospital, over 100 pollution-related cases were reported on Thursday and Friday. “This has been the trend throughout the week. Once the compilation of the data is completed, we can have a better understanding of the overall situation,” an employee working at the hospital said.