Pollution clinic sees sharp rise in patients with health issues

Deepak Kumar, 64, a laundry worker from Patel Nagar, sat in visible distress, gasping for air between coughing bouts at a pollution clinic at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Monday.

- Ridhima Gupta

His daughter, Kajal, 24, spent the day helping him navigate the clinic's sections for consultations. "His symptoms have escalated over the past week, so I brought him here:' she said. His condition - severe breathing issues and a heavy cough has deteriorated rapidly, she said, and prompted them to rush to the specialised clinic.

Also at the clinic was 46-year-old Ajay, who goes by one name. Originally from Bihar, Ajay said he moved to Delhi 15 years ago for work, but now finds himself paying a steep price.

"Unlike affluent people, I can't afford air purifiers or cars to shield my family from pollution. My children study here, so we have no choice but to stay.

But we're seriously considering leaving the city for the sake of our health," he said.

They are some of the many patients visiting the Pollution Janit Rog Nivaran Kendra - a first-of-its-kind clinic dedicated to pollution-related health conditions.

Operational since October 2023, it is a specialised facility at RML Hospital that addresses pollution-related health issues through four departments: respiratory, dermatology, eye care, and psychiatry.

Currently, the clinic functions once a week on Mondays for two hours - 2pm to 4pm. But the demand is such that hospital authorities may expanding the number of days and hours that the clinic is operational.