Lack of staff, medical apparatus hits services at railway hospital

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 29

Lack of staff, including a nurse, and limited medical apparatus to conduct lab tests, medical services are suffering at Government Railway Hospital in the city.

Moreover, doctors are finding it tough to manage affairs in the absence of a staff nurse in the hospital. With doctors performing the duty of the staff number, burden has increased on them.

The inflow of patients at the hospital has increased manifold in the past two years, but no fresh appointments have been made to make sure that proper medical services are provided to the retired and current employees of the Railways.

An executive member of the Railway Pensioners and Welfare Men’s Association, said, “Not every patient can afford to visit Ambala or private labs in the city. The railway authorities need to improve the treatment facilities at the hospital here. The patient inflow has reached up to 180 daily. Against the requirement of three doctors, there are two doctors. Two months ago, there was only one doctor at the hospital. Similarly, against the requirement of three pharmacists, there were only two pharmacists. There is no staff nurse to assist doctors in ensuring quality medical treatment and look after patients.”

He said there were no arrangements to meet medical emergencies or admit patients requiring critical care. As a result, doctors refer such cases to Max Super Speciality Hospital or Delhi Heart Hospital, where treatment is an expensive affair.

Moreover in the absence of required medical equipment to conduct lab tests, patients were asked to visit a private lab situated in the city, he added.

Since, the daily inflow of patients at the OPD of the hospital has increased significantly as patients from neighbouring districts also visit the hospital. But, due to lack of proper infrastructure and a shortage of staff, patients have to face a lot of inconvenience. More than 4,000 railway employees, their family members and around 850 retired railway employees avail medical services at the hospital in the city.

The issue of shortage of staff was highlighted on numerous occasions in the past, following which a doctor was appointed at the hospital two months ago. Even the Railway Pensioners’ Welfare Men’s Association, Bathinda, had written to the then Union Railways Minister highlighting the ailing condition of the hospital, but to no avail.

Dr Gurdev, in charge of Government Railway Hospital, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Not every patient can afford to visit Ambala or private labs in the city. The railway authorities need to improve the treatment facilities at the hospital here. The patient inflow has reached up to 180 daily. Against the requirement of three doctors, there are two doctors. Two months ago, there was only one doctor at the hospital. Similarly, against the requirement of three pharmacists, there were only two pharmacists. There is no staff nurse to assist doctors in ensuring quality medical treatment and look after patients. —Executive member, Railway Pensioners and Welfare Men’sAssociation