Negligent hospitals

The shortcomings in public healthcare system have come to the fore along with a spike in Covid cases. In Haryana, the family of a young woman, who was shifted to a government hospital with Covid symptoms, had to run from pillar to post for five days to get her body lying in a mortuary. The doctors allegedly forgot to send her samples for testing. She was earlier refused medical attention at the community health centre. In another instance, at Jalgaon in Maharashtra, a family lost its members admitted for treatment of coronavirus to a government hospital, for want of facilities. Five officials of the hospital have been suspended and an inquiry ordered.

The allegation of negligence against the doctors, even at government hospitals, is unfortunate as they have been at the frontline of Covid duty. Haryana had earlier ordered an audit of Covid fatalities which included investigating the causes and the line of treatment. This should continue. The state of primary healthcare also needs to be checked. In Punjab, reports have said rural dispensaries are being rendered non-functional due to the pandemic as rural medical officers and pharmacists have been deputed at urban centres. It is also natural for the doctors to suffer from fatigue. In Jammu, suitable accommodation has been demanded for doctors who had tested positive. In Delhi, there has been a controversy with CM Kejriwal first stating that government hospitals were meant for the locals, only to be overruled by the Lieutenant-Governor.

For the hospitals, it should be patients first. While private hospitals are mostly better equipped, the treatment is not affordable for all as the tests are costly. That leaves the government hospitals to cater to the majority. The crisis offers an opportunity to rejuvenate the public health system as the government’s flagship health insurance scheme is for the economically vulnerable. Despite its inadequacies, the quality of healthcare workers in government hospitals has helped cope with the pandemic pressure. It’s time to take stock as the pressure will shift to rural and semi-urban areas once the free movement of people starts taking place with the easing of restrictions.