But patients and their relatives have to struggle hard to get proper care at Bir Hospital"s emergency, which has been suffering from acute manpower shortage, especially doctors, for years.[break]
Each day over 300 patients visit the hospital emergency from across the country as it is the nation"s only referral center. Treatment at the hospital costs less than at other hospitals. ´I have written several times to the hospital administration about the manpower crunch but to no avail,´ said Dr Dhurbalal Singh, adding, ´No one listens to our problem.´ Dr Singh said that he had even spoken to the vice chancellor (VC) of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) about the problem but he too has not shown seriousness.
´We have been providing care to hundreds of patients by four medical officers. Sometimes just three doctors run the department,´ added Dr Singh. The hospital emergency has 45 beds that are always occupied. He said that patients who visit emergency need urgent care. He concedes that delay in providing critical care puts patient"s life at risk.
´But how can four medical officers provide immediate care to all,´ asked Dr Singh. He said that not a single day passes without patients and their relatives confronting doctors over poor emergency services.
´Some people scold us, some try to put pressure on us by calling political leaders and some takes patients out of hospital,´ he said, adding, ´We know that it is not fair to send patients out of hospital but we have no option.´ Every day, several patients go to private centers after they feel neglected at Bir Hospital"s emergency.
Last year, then State Minister for Health and Population Soroj Yadav was mired in controversy when he sought special attention for his mother-in-law. Doctors and employees had alleged that Yadav abused them verbally, whenever his ailing mother-in- law could not get quick attention. He later shifted her to a private center.
Dr Singh said that in lack of medical officers, he is compelled to request consultant doctors to serve in emergency. Medical officers are junior level doctors, who look after patients at the emergency first.
Director of Bir Hospital Dr Buland Thapa said that he is aware of the problems. ´I have no right to appoint staff. I have forwarded the letter to the NAMS office bearers to draw their attention,´ said Dr Thapa. Attempts to contact NAMS VC for comments could not succeed.
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