Cleared – maniChennai: Delays, equipment shortage and lack of even basic facilities stare at patients and their families at the Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital’s (RGGH) emergency ward. On May 15, when a 50-year-old woman from Kodungaiyur was taken to the hospital, her CT scan took over three hours as the ward was operating with only one machine. She arrived at RGGGH around 11pm, and though doctors advised an immediate CT scan, it was not done until around 1.30am.“At least 20 patients were waiting ahead of my mother in the emergency ward. Although the doctors instructed the staff to expedite the CT scan, the staff were oblivious of the emergency and ignored the medical advice. At least 200 to 300 emergency cases arrive daily at the hospital, yet they lack the infrastructure to treat them,” said her son.The long wait was, in fact, just the beginning of an unending ordeal and harassment. Her brain surgery was scheduled for May 16, but when she was moved into an ICU ward it did not have much facilities. The bed was broken, there were no bedsheets or pillows in the ICU. “The staff asked us to buy our own items. There was no jug to dispose of urine from the tray. For the pre-surgery head shave, we paid Rs 100. It was done without safety measures — no water spray or gloves — and with a used glucose bottle,” said the patient’s attendant.Many other patients and families said they too were made to pay for essentials such as mugs, pillows, and jugs. The staff demand Rs 100 to Rs 200 for wheeling in patients for X-rays or ECGs. “It is as if no pay, no service. People come to govt hospitals because they cannot afford private care, yet they are forced to spend at least Rs 1,000 on bribes,” said another attendant at RGGGH.The hygiene conditions at the hospital are appalling. Rats are spotted near the operation theatre and cafeteria, and both dead and live cockroaches are found in the RO water units. The toilets are hardly clean.“The govt spends a lot to ensure delivery of excellent medical services. However, its intention is defeated and undermined by the rampant corruption at the grassroots level, poor hygiene, inadequate staffing, and lack of equipment,” said an attendant.A senior official at RGGGH stated steps were being taken to install additional CT machines and ensure that the hospital premises were maintained properly. MSID:: 121238179 413 |