Make healthcare services affordable, infuse more capital

Prevent exploitation by private hospitals | Ensure presence of doctors, well-trained staff in villages | Bring behavioural change

To improve the healthcare facilities, the first and foremost requirement is well-educated doctors. Secondly, we also know that healthcare services are beyond reach of many and hospitals have become profit-oriented. They don't admit poor patients easily and the same was seen when the pandemic was at its peak. Authorities concerned need to be vigilant in this regard and take steps in the favour of the public.

Khushleen Kaur

Appoint specialised docs

Undoubtedly, from the past few years, healthcare facilities in Punjab have improved, still due to numerous reasons, critical patients are referred to big hospitals such as the PGI, Chandigarh and Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. This is due to lack of specialised treatment in city. Other than this another reason is hospitals like the PGI offer small and economical treatments which suits lower class and poor families. To improve health facilities in Ludhiana, the government should invest more in providing high-quality services to the patients. These must be

affordable and free for the poor. Moreover, more and more specialised doctors in each medical field must be appointed. The health of patients should not be sacrificed by giving degrees to underqualified and less specialised doctors. Moreover, more hospitals must be opened in local city with more specialised staff. Some charity hospitals with public support should be launched to make the city good in healthcare field.

Khushleen kaur

Hold frequent inspections

Due to the development of technology, Ludhiana has achieved heights in different ways. However, the healthcare facilities provided to public in government hospitals is not up to the mark. There are several of plausible reasons for that such as paucity of funds, deficient number of doctors or other staff members, miserable conditions of infrastructure or less advanced machinery. The problem can be cured by donating a little proportion of our hard earn money so that the poor can get proper aid. Authorities should keep a proper inspection on the staff that they are performing their duties efficiently or not? Together with that they must keep a check on the cleanliness of the hospital. Moreover, the government should provide few schemes and subsidies to them so that they can purchase advanced technology as it costs an arm and a leg to buy such establishments. Also, they should try to modify their older infrastructure with new ones for the ease of the patients. By following such measures the residents will not face any cumbersome situations and can get the best treatment in their hometown rather commuting from one place to other as it is very troublesome to travel for a person suffering fatal disease.

Damneet Kohli

Improve condition of govt hospitals

The cost of health treatment in private hospitals is unaffordable for common man and condition of government hospitals is not up to the mark. The government should focus to improve the condition of government hospitals. Every facility and every treatment should be made available at government hospitals. Special budget can be passed to improve the state of these hospitals. This is the basic duty of any government to provide best health treatment to the public at reasonable rate. Recruitment of experienced doctors should be done and they must paid good amount so that they do their duty properly. Also, strict vigil should be kept at the attendance of doctors and other staff. Stock of medicines must be kept up to mark. The government should focus on the hospitality of hospitals. It is the major issue. People are helplessness for taking treatment at private hospitals at hefty costs. The government and local administration should focus to improve condition of

government hospitals.

Arshdeep Singh Gill

Give jobs on merit

Though Ludhiana is a modern and well-industrialised city but the condition of government hospitals is not up to the mark here. Some of the steps which can perform effective reforms are that the expenditure on government hospitals, dispensaries need to be increased. In my opinion, the staff should be given jobs on their merit, experience. Hygiene of health centres must be the top most priority. Most importantly, the cooperation of patients can do real good.

Harleen Kaur grewal

Hold free medical camps

Due to the increasing population, the healthcare facilities need to be improved. The hospitals in the city should ensure proper implementation of the government schemes and grants. The health ministers and officials concerned should examine the health care facilities provided by the hospitals. The poor citizens cannot afford expensive medical treatments so free medical check-up camps should be organised by hospitals on regular basis.

Amarpreet Kaur

Provide free food to poor

The poor are the worst sufferers of insufficient healthcare services. They have very little or no capacity to spend on medical treatment to maintain their health if they are having any medical problem. It is the duty of the state or local government to open special hospitals for them as one hospital such as ESI or civil hospital may not serve all poor people. In each hospital there should be a special provision to treat poor people free of cost. This treatment may be sponsored by any NGO or any philanthropist. The government should make it mandatory for rich people to donate a very small part of their income in the form of charity and this fund should be reserved strictly for the treatment of the poor. In each hospital there should be a medicine collection centre, those who want to donate may donate or deposit cash with these centres. As per the pattern of Delhi government, the state government should make some tests and treatment free, especially for poor people. Free food and free assistance must be provided to poor patients who are under treatment in any hospital. Moreover, we all should come forward to lend our support to uplift the downtrodden and deserving section of the society for maintaining their health so they may also live healthy lives.

Farzana Khan

Improve infrastructure

Deficiency of fundamental health facilities, insufficient doctors and surgeons, and inadequate infrastructure at the government hospitals are the root causes that patients are referred to other hospitals. Wherever there are vacancies, doctors should be recruited. According to reports, 4,300 Indians die due to poor hospital care. The government needs to take immediate steps to improve it. Good number of stretchers, sufficient beds, ambulance, hygienic atmosphere and other facilities should be provided on priority basis.

Gurpreet Kaur

Sanitise public places

Firstly of all, different strategies should be made by the local authority in purpose of the development of sanitary conditions. Secondly, public places should be properly sanitised on a regular basis so that people don't get exposed to the virus. Administration and police agencies should raise awareness and task out activities such as social distancing and santising hands and take new role as public health messengers. They should implement creative ways to teach the law- breakers so that they can never repeat the same and stay safe.

Harleen Kaur

Develop infra, refer patients locally

It speaks poorly of Ludhiana that patients of government hospitals here are referred to either Rajindra Hospital, Patiala or PGI, Chandigarh. It must not be done except it's urgent or under very rare circumstances. The city has a number of top-class hospitals, including SPS Hospital, Fortis Hospital, CMC Hospital, DMC Hospital and many others having different specialisations. The Health Department must make arrangements with these hospitals for referring patients locally. This will save the patients from going far away leaving their relatives behind. Moving the patients to the new station also adds to the cost at the new place and risk of inconveniences to both the patients and their care-takers. The relatives of the patients are also saved from travelling to the new station to inquire about the health and welfare of the patient. The Health Department must upgrade the medical facilities at the local government hospital here so that there is no need to refer the patients out of the city. Another alternative worth consideration is that new hospitals of the status of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala and PGI, Chandigarh, are established in the city itself.

Gautam Dev

Set up 4 big hospitals

The population of Ludhiana district is above 18 lakhs and the urban poverty rate is 9 per cent, almost double of the rural poverty rate. For this huge population the city has only two multispecialty government hospitals such as Civil and ESI hospital. Due to this the poor have to run from the pillar to post to get good medical treatment at an affordable price. They can hardly afford the private hospitals of the city in which you have to pay through your nose. To ensure quality treatment to the underprivileged the government should set up at least four more state-of-the-art big hospitals in the city in four different directions.

Dr Sunil Chopra

Improve quality of services

There are ample of facilities available in the city but the authorities need to work on healthcare facilities. The government should provide easy access of medical services to every resident. Due to negligence of hospital authorities and expensive medical services residents prefer to consult the PGI, Chandigarh. Staff should take the responsibility of patient rather than playing the game of "pass the buck", as it is a matter of someone's life. Minimising the waiting time and managing it according to the need of an hour should also be helpful. It is important to continually employ newer technologies that improve the quality of care. Of course, this must be done with reference to cost-efficiencies. Lack of adequate personnel and lack of adequate training facilities for the available personnel are major problems. Access to low-cost medicines is an absolute necessity for appropriate care. Hospitals are probably one of the least relaxing places to be. The noise, harsh lighting, sterile environment and quick paced movement don't exactly encourage rest and relaxation. The government should take measures to ensure the healthcare system be efficient in the city.

Urvashi

Make health facilities more inclusive

The first and the foremost point is that the poor are not aware of the different medical schemes exclusively available to them. The authorities concerned are not doing their duty properly. It is the duty of the authorities to enlighten the poor about various medical schemes. Some NGOs can also come forward for the noble cause. The big private hospitals can also play a vital role in providing health facilities to the poor and the needy in the form of camps, organising lectures etc. Employees' State Insurance Corporation is a big name, but still it is not able to render its services to the poor and the needy, the reasons best known to the officials. The working of ESIC needs to be streamlined. All these measure will surely be a great help for the poor to improve their health conditions.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Provide patient-friendly environment at hospitals

The local, state and central governments are not paying much attention to civil hospitals and moreover the environment is not patient friendly. To spend on other sectors, the government must spend on the maintenance of health of its residents by providing timely and proper treatment to patients. Some of the issues that need to be addressed to make civil hospitals patient friendly are accessibility and availability. Secondly, waiting times for all services should be minimised. Thirdly, patient information and instruction about all procedures, both medical and administrative, should be made very clear. Well trained patient counsellors form an effective link between the patient and the hospital staff and make the patient's experience better and the physicians' task much easier. Fourthly, check-in and check-out procedures should be 'patient friendly'. Last but not the least, there must be provision of necessary equipment which be properly placed and maintained. The governments should pay proper and timely attention to provide patient-friendly environment in civil hospitals..

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Develop hospitals on lines of AIIMS

This is a matter of serious concern. Ludhiana is still lagging far behind as far as healthcare facilities are concerned. Patients are referred to either PGI, Chandigarh or Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. In many cases it's hard for the patients to survive the long distance. The main reason behind this is the careless attitude of the government in this sector. Political parties always try to develop their hometowns and neglecting other cities. Civil hospital of Ludhiana is in a shabby condition while private players in this sector are looting the general public. Ludhiana is the highest tax paying city in Punjab, but lags in providing basic and necessary services to the people. The government should make a sound provision in its budget and must establish a hospital of AIIMS level.

Ritu Priya

Need to upgrade infrastructure

It is a bitter truth that healthcare privileges in city are not as they should be. It has been seen that people of the city have to visit other cities for their treatment. The government should pay attention towards the ordeal of patients. When a non-industrial city like Bathinda could get AIIMS, why Ludhiana is deprived of it? Millions of workers are working here, but to treat them are only a few hospitals. Even in some of them latest medical instruments are not available and the position of the city's lone civil hospital is worrisome. Health administration should have proper funds to upgrade the existing infrastructure so that doctors do not have need to refer patients to other places. Apart from that, state machinery should convince the central government for a big healthcare project in this district, with it only local people will not reap the benefits, but also neighbours such as Moga, Phagwara and Sangrur.

BABAR SIDHU