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The Bhopal Gallery

There are 6 pages in this gallery. This is page 5.

~ The Bhopal Gallery Contents ~

{#1 The Factory (Photographs)}{#2 Protest (Photographs)}{#3 Sambhavna (Photographs)}

{#4 Survivors (Photographs)}{#5 Hospitals (Photographs)}{#6 The Bhopal Tragedy (Words)}

#5 Hospitals

There are an estimated 500,000 people who have health problems caused by the disaster of 1984. The government has built several hospitals for the relief of gas victims however, three remain empty and the others have been criticised for only providing heavy medication for short-term relief. Representatives have also shown concern that many of the drugs doled out by government doctors are dangerously inappropriate and since no medical records have been kept, no treatment protocol has been devised for the diseases caused by exposure to the gas.

The Bhopal Hospital Trust (BHT) was created by Union Carbide to makeover out of criminal charges of culpable homicide. Money was raised by the sale of share in the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide, although Union Carbide itself only donated one thousand pounds. The BHT's health care plans have been seriously criticised by several medical bodies and survivors groups have questioned the sense in building another hospital in a city that probably has more hospital beds per head of population than any other city in the world. These survivors groups are also concerned that a company previously engaged in chemical and biological warfare research should be permitted to run a ten-bed research unit in the hospital, especially considering that there is no undertaking to release findings. While the hospital was under construction the building site was raided by labour officials who found that child labourers, as young as nine years old, were being employed.

Click the individual thumbnail images to view them full size.

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The Kamala Nehru Hospital. Building started in 1987 and despite going three times over budget construction has not yet finished. Many allegations have been made by survivors' groups who claim that many pockets have been lined while the hospital remains incomplete.

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The front of the Kamala Nehru Hospital. Building started in 1987 and despite going three times over budget construction has not yet finished. Many allegations have been made by survivors' groups who claim that many pockets have been lined while the hospital remains incomplete.

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Inside the incomplete Kamala Nehru Hospital. Building started in 1987 and despite going three times over budget construction has not yet finished. Many allegations have been made by survivors' groups who claim that many pockets have been lined lined while the hospital remains incomplete.

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Construction work continues on the Kamala Nehru hospital 12 years after it started. Despite official insistence that the hospital will only treat survivors of the disaster, departments from another hospital have occupied several floors.

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Bhopal Hospital Trust's (BHT) Hospital. Many criticisms have been levelled at the BHT, which was set up when Union Carbide India was forced by the Madhya Pradesh government to sell its assets. Activists say the hospital, is overly lavish and at least ten years too late. Also, the BHT was caught using child labour during the construction of the hospital.

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Beds waiting to be installed in the Bhopal Hospital Trust's Hospital.

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As well as the hospital the Bhopal Hospital Trust runs several small clinics around the city. Activists accuse these of being overly dependent on strong drugs that have serious side effects.

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A victim of the 1984 gas disaster is examined at one of the Bhopal Hospital Trust's small clinics. Activists accuse these of being overly dependent on strong drugs that have serious side effects.

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As well as the hospital the Bhopal Hospital Trust runs several small clinics around the city. Activists accuse these of being overly dependent on strong drugs that have serious side effects.

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Survivors of the gas disaster queue at one of the Bhopal Hospital Trust's small clinics. Activists accuse these of being overly dependent on strong drugs that have serious side effects.

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As well as the hospital the Bhopal Hospital Trust runs several small clinics around the city. Activists accuse these of being overly dependent on strong drugs that have serious side effects.

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~ The Bhopal Gallery Contents ~

{#1 The Factory (Photographs)}{#2 Protest (Photographs)}{#3 Sambhavna (Photographs)}

{#4 Survivors (Photographs)}{#5 Hospitals (Photographs)}{#6 The Bhopal Tragedy (Words)}

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