One gynaecologist, scores of patients at Civil Hospital

Manmeet Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 22

With only one gynecologist at the Civil Hospital here, pregnant women are having a tough time as they have to wait for hours for their turn. Around 400 pregnant women reach the hospital daily for their routine check-up. Additionally around 15 deliveries are conducted on a daily basis.

Earlier, the hospital had three doctors but one of them was shifted to Tarn Taran recently and another joined the Government Medical College as senior resident. 

The staff at the hospital says at least five gynecologists are needed to run the services. 

Patients at the mother care centre of the hospital say that they have to wait for hours for their turn. “It is not possible for the women, especially those at the advanced stages of pregnancy, to sit for hours. Sometimes in cases of emergency, they need to see the doctor immediately,” said an elderly woman accompanying her daughter-in-law.

Another patient said, “The government claims that the medical services are free for pregnant women. But the free facility has no purpose when the doctor is not available.” She said that in view of the problem being faced by patients, the government should arrange for more doctors.

Sources say around 450 deliveries are conducted at the hospital every month, of which nearly 150 are C-section (cesarean) deliveries which require surgery. “Even the gynecologists have to come to hospital in night hours to attend emergency patients. It is difficult for one doctor to bear such a workload,” said an insider. 

Civil Surgeon Dr Narinder Kaur said the higher-ups had been requested to depute more gynecologists. She said that as a short term plan, they were trying to get gynaecologists from the ESI Hospital, Majithia road, where three of them are posted and workload is not much.