At GMSH, patients collect Covid reports

Kritika Kanwar

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11

Covid testing at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Sector 16 (GMSH-16) is nothing short of a nightmare for suspected patients who have to wait for long to get reports after giving their samples. Sometimes, the duration of the wait even stretches up to four-five days, which leads to a delay in the treatment.

Not only this, the help desk officials ask patients to collect their reports physically from counter number 16 near the OPD. Patients are supposed to be in quarantine till their reports are out.

“When I gave my Covid sample for the RT-PCR test at the flu centre on April 7, I was told that my reports will be out in two days. When I did not receive any message from the hospital even on the third day, I called up their help desk and was told to visit counter number 16 to know about my Covid report. I was shocked as the doctors themselves advise home isolation to patients until their reports are out,” a Covid patient from Sector 32 said.

“When I reached the counter, I found a long queue there. Many like me were queued up and did not know their Covid status. There was no social distancing. It was utter chaos. After running from pillar to post, I finally asked a doctor friend to log in from his ID to check my Covid status online. He told me that I was positive and sent me my reports. Imagine how many people I could have infected while standing in the queue?” said the patient.

“Since private labs have been charging too much, we prefer a government hospital to get tested for Covid. Initially, doctors at the PGI refused to take my sample and sent me to the GMSH. I was told that I will get my report on my (phone) number within two days. It is my fifth day today and I know nothing of my Covid status. I was in home isolation for four days and did not receive any message regarding my report,” said a Khuda Lahora resident queued up at counter number 16.

Sources at the GMSH said they only collected samples while the testing was done either at the PGI or the GMCH, Sector 32. This could also be one of the reasons for the delay in providing reports, they added.

Dr VK Nagpal, Medical Superintendent, GMSH, said, “Government hospitals are too busy with Covid cases. There might be some problem with the help desk. We will look into it to offer better services to people.”

Dr Amandeep Kang, Director, Health Services, UT, said, “We will try to ensure that positive patients are not called to the hospital at any cost.”