Elderly patients feel the pain at PGI OPD

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 11

Seventy-year-old Labh Singh from Khamano broke down into tears while complaining about filthy bathrooms. Scrambling to look for a wheelchair in the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the PGI, Labh Singh was at his wits end.

“Is this a hospital? Bathrooms are full of filth. One has to battle to get the possession of a wheelchair. This place is not meant for the elderly. One should bring four burly men to run around for the treatment of patients. An old man like me will die while shuttling from one block to another,” said Labh Singh.

While refusing to divulge the ailment of his wife, Labh Singh said the doctor at the emergency has denied admitting her. She was discharged after administering a couple of injections. She now wants to answer the nature’s call, but the toilets are in a bad shape.

Poonam Goel, a city resident, was also grappling with a similar predicament. She is suffering from an acute skin problem. She is poor and is finding it difficult to purchase medicines worth Rs 15,000.

“Poor patient’s form was not available at the OPD reception and I had to walk all the way to the Nehru Hospital to collect the same. On returning to the OPD, I was asked to visit the Nehru Hospital again to get the form sanctioned from the doctor concerned,” said Poonam.

An elderly couple limping its way out of the OPD complained that no one assists elderly patients at the OPD.

“No one offered us a wheelchair or tried to assist us. Finally, my wife, who is around 70-year-old, offered me support and decided to take me out of the hospital,” said the elderly couple.

Manju Wadwalkar, Public Relations Officer of the PGI, said there were enough wheelchairs and stretchers for patients visiting the OPD.

“The shortage occurs when patients are shifted from the OPD to the main hospital or they are taken for tests. Often stretchers and wheelchairs are abandoned by patients’ attendants and employees have to collect these,” said Wadwalkar.