Guru Nanak Dev Hospital seeks help from NGOs
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 1
Instances of abandoned patients being denied treatment are on the rise as there is no way to take care of them. So far, request by the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital authorities to various NGOs for making volunteers available for taking care of such patients has failed to yield any results.
Earlier, a local social group had filed a complaint with the government along with a list of the 13 patients, who were allegedly denied treatment and thrown out of the hospital.
The hospital authorities had even brought the matter to the notice of the district administration after which Deputy Commissioner had assured them of working out solution to the problem with help of NGOs.
The indifference of the hospital authorities in tackling such patients has often drawn flak from various NGOs and social groups.
However, officials at the hospital said, “Sometimes these abandoned patients are in a bad shape with worms running in their wounds. Other patients object to their presence in the ward.”
The authorities stated that as there was a huge rush of patients at the hospital, the staff cannot be expected to sit by bed side of each and every ailing person.
Another official said, “Employees on duty have to attend to at least 50 patients in a ward. An attendant, who can give water, help a patient in eating his food or escort him to the washroom is necessary.”
Officials stated that sometimes people call ambulance service to report abandoned people lying sick on roadsides. They said, “In such cases the ambulance brings the patient at the hospital, but as no one accompanies him or her it creates problems for the hospital staff.”
Medical Superintendent Ram Sarup Sharma said, “We request all NGOs and volunteer groups to help the hospital in taking care of such patients. We can provide treatment and basic care. Due to shortage of manpower we cannot do what an attendant normally does for a patient.”
He said NGOs must come forward to find a solution to the problem.
