John Wilbert & Savita Kumari
Port Blair, Mar 29: The G B Pant Hospital of Port Blair is the only referral hospital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and for every major health issue, the G B Pant Hospital is the last hope for most of the Islanders.
But recently it has been observed that due to the huge rush of patients in G B Pant Hospital, the hospital is facing shortage of beds and hence many patients are given mattresses and are asked to sleep on the floor, where they are given treatment.
Although this is a far better option than refusing to admit patients, from the point of view of the patients, sleeping on the floor makes them more uncomfortable and upset. Several videos and photos of different wards of G B Pant are now doing rounds online, which is sending a wrong message about the entire Health Department.
“Sleeping on the floor is not only uncomfortable but is also a threat to health, many people walk inside the ward with dirty shoes all the time. There is also a serious issue the about privacy of a patient,” a attainder told Andaman Sheekha on the condition of anonymity.
If there is a shortage of beds, can’t the Health Department arrange folding beds to manage the situation? Can’t some patients be shifted to nearby PHCs and given the right treatment by visiting doctors there?
When Andaman Sheekha contacted a top official of Directorate of Health Service (DHS),the officer said that there is a sudden increase in the number of patients, many referral patients are being admitted and large number of pregnant women are also coming for delivery, which has led to the shortage of beds in the hospital.
“We can’t extend the wards, there is no scope as the building is very old, and the capacity of the present ward to acquire patients is limited, that is why there is a shortage of beds. Once the new District Hospital, which is under construction, is ready, this kind of situation will not be seen,” the Doctor added.
“We are trying to manage the situation to the best of our abilities. Once the new District Hospital in Garacharma becomes operational, there won’t be such problems,” the Doctor assured.
Meanwhile, many Islanders believe that if desired some makeshift arrangements can be made to deal with the present situation like providing foldable beds, shifting some office areas to nearby government buildings and extending patients’ wards in those spaces etc.
Islanders request the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to pay a surprise visit to different wards of G B Pant Hospital to listen to the problems being faced by the patients. They believe that if a senior officer like Chief Secretary gives direction, things will improve in G B Pant, overnight.
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