Docs test patients’ patience

Docs test patients’ patience
Meeting first, patients can wait at Civil Hospital?
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 29

When Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and his MP wife Harsimrat Kaur conducted raid at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, on July 17, it not only hit the headlines but also rekindled a hope that the functioning of the hospital would improve with the Badal couple giving a severe “dose” to the hospital staff. But after the lapse of just four months, things are back to square one.
During a visit to the hospital today, The Tribune found patients carrying their OPD slips, X-ray reports and medicines, and moving around to find doctors. Majority of the doctors were not on their seat. There were long queues in the corridors of the hospital.
“We are standing here for past an hour but nobody seems to be bothered. We have asked sweepers and peons about doctor sahib but they too are expressing inability to tell their whereabouts,” rued one Binder Kaur of Tapa, who came to get herself checked by an MD (medicine). She was complaining of respiratory problem.
“I am so poor that I had to borrow money from my neighbour to pay the bus fare and to buy medicines. But here, nobody is concerned about my condition,” she rued.
Similar was the condition outside the radiology ward where people with fractured limbs had no other option but to wait for long until radiologists came to their seat and attended to them.
Condition of a middle-aged Sheela Devi of Dhobiana Basti (Bathinda) was pitiable. She was sitting in a wheel chair and crying due to back pain.
When asked for how long was she in queue, she started cursing the hospital authorities for their indifferent attitude.
“The government doctors get handsome salaries but their approach towards poor and needy patients, who have no other option, is not professional at all,” said RS Siroha of Partap Nagar, who came with a fractured hand and problem in stomach.
On checking, TNS found some of the doctors attending a meeting in the cabin of the senior medical officer (SMO). Oblivious of the pathetic condition of the patients waiting for them, they were also seen sharing a laugh.
When contacted after the meeting concluded, SMO Dr Vinod Garg said, “The doctors were called for a meeting with oncology experts, who arrived here. I too wanted the meeting to take place after 3 pm so that patients do not get harassed. But due to some compulsions, we had to call it in between.”
However, he assured of ensuring that patients are not harassed in future for any reason, meetings in particular, which are to be called only after the closure of OPD ward.