RML isn’t the only one; an ambitious ‘Centre of Excellence’ for transgender healthcare is also set to open at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, soon.
Sassoon Hospital in Pune and GT Hospital in Mumbai, too, inaugurated dedicated wards for transgender people earlier this year.
These initiatives popping up in major government hospitals this year are not coincidental. They are essentially driven by the promise of better healthcare for trans persons, according to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
In fact, according to the Act, at least one government hospital in each state should be equipped enough to deal with the specific healthcare needs of trans persons – still a distant dream on the ground.
Trans persons are often denied healthcare access due to discrimination, stigma, and even ignorance. Hostility, and judgment also keep many trans persons from seeking out medical aid.
“Existing OPDs can be a bit difficult for trans people to access, not necessarily because the doctors are insensitive, but it could so happen that other staff and other patients in the OPD may have prejudice and stigma against them,” says Anjali Siroya, a trans woman and activist who works with Humsafar India, an NGO that works towards uplifting the LGBTQ+ community.
There’s also the issue of documentation. For instance, Siroya says, if a trans person needs to be admitted, they (hospital staff) don’t know whether they should be admitted to the male or female ward. “This basic understanding is not there.”
Historically, transgender individuals have been excluded from the realm of healthcare services. “The healthcare system has neglected the overall health of transpeople, with a narrow focus on preventing HIV and STDs,” says Siroya.
“Surgeons also often don’t customise their surgical intervention to the body needs of a transgender person,” Dr Anmol Rawat, a Public Health Expert, and a transman, tells FIT.
“I got my top surgery from a doctor in Delhi, and it was pathetic,” he adds. “These mess-ups happen when doctors are not trained in these intricacies.”
This begs the question, does the current medical curriculum adequately educate doctors on transgender healthcare? Are they equipped to handle the specific needs of patients in these special OPDs?
As well-meaning as these exclusive spaces in these hospitals are, are they really helping make access to healthcare easier for transgender persons?
“I am not against having an exclusive OPD because that serves the purpose that the healthcare delivery system should be equipped to cater to the needs of trans individuals,” Anjali Siroya tells FIT.
“But,” she adds, “In the long run, I wouldn’t really encourage this idea.”
