Amritsar, February 22
Broken beds, leaking roofs and empty wards, sum up the pathetic condition of TB hospital, a premier institute of northern India. The strength of staff here is four times than the occupancy of beds. A corner of the hospital is being used as a dairy by a staff member, while the kitchen, store and other rooms could be seen locked.

The hospital has nine cooks but patients are not getting diet from the hospital. The patients have to take meal and tea from dhabas and tea stalls outside. Hence, there is every chance of tuberculosis infection spreading.

The Audit Department has pointed out the hospital has more staff than the indoor patients. As a result, most of the staff members can be seen sitting idle and gossiping on the hospital premises. There are complaints that some staff members have been running “benami” chemist shops and tea stalls outside the hospital.

The apathy of the administration towards the ill-maintained hospital could be seen through the poorly maintained lawns and garbage littered all around. The serai, which was opened by the district administration for the free stay of patients’ relatives, has been encroached upon by an outsider. Ramesh, who is in illegal possession of the serai, has been charging Rs 5 from relatives of patients for their stay. He has been living along with his family there without making any payment to the hospital. So much so, the money charged by him from patients and their relatives is not being deposited with the hospital.

Interestingly, the hospital is running two parallel OPDs, one by the District TB Officer and another by the hospital itself, which creates utter confusion among patients and their relatives. The question on the pitiable condition of the hospital was also raised by Mr Hardev Arshi, an MLA of the CPI, on the floor of the Assembly.

Dr J.L. Bhatia, Adviser, TB, Government of Punjab, said the hospital had seen steep rise and fall in the past 50 years due to apathy of all concerned. Giving details of this premier institute, Dr Bhatia said in 1956 a highly qualified doctor fresh with the latest knowledge from England became in-charge of this ailing hospital. The institute became a modern vibrant hospital. The patients would get the best treatment in those days. Modern training was given to the young postgraduates who occupied high positions all over India. However, due to the indifferent attitude of the state government and the local administration the reputation of the hospital has suffered.

The veteran CPI leader, Mr Satya Pal Dang, has said the occupancy of the hospital had gone down from 250 beds to 50 beds. During a visit to the hospital, this correspondent saw empty beds in the entire ESI ward.

Dr Bhatia alleged the hospital staff had approached the local Pingalwara for providing free langar to the patients. However, the verbal request by the hospital was declined by the Pingalwara management.

Insiders claim as money was charged for different tests and beds the occupancy of the patients had come down. The government had started charging for tests etc from May 1, 1999.

The stores and other buildings of the hospital are in a dilapidated condition. The hospital waste is thrown in stores which is a great health hazard.

Reliable sources point out the occupancy of the hospital had come down to 20 per cent after the introduction of the fee charges. The number of staff and Class IV employees alone is much higher than the indoor patients which speaks volumes about the seriousness of the government to control tuberculosis.