Health Dept’s mega camp turns into fiasco

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 20

A mega health check-up camp organised by the Health Department proved a damp squib. It was indeed an apology in itself. Patients were seen waiting for hours to get their X-rays, absence of the ramp caused difficulty to handicapped patients and even laboratory attendants gave precautionary measures a miss.

The camp was held at International Public School, Sandhu Nagar. Health Minister Brahm Mohindra was the chief guest on the occasion.

Long wait for patients

National mobile medical unit was stationed at the venue and patients were seen waiting outside vans for hours altogether to get their X-rays done. Kamlesh, who came at the camp with lot of expectations said, “Doctor has asked me to get the X-ray done. I am waiting outside the van with a slip since 9 am, but they are not calling me inside for the X-ray. Being old, it is difficult for me to stand under the sun. I managed to get a chair, but it is becoming impossible to sit in the hot weather.”

Expecting mothers bear scorching heat

Sadhna, who was carrying two and a half years old child in her arms was seen waiting here since long. She said, “I am on my family way and doctor has asked to get the X-Ray done. It is difficult for me to even sit in this condition and that, too, in blistering heat.”

No ramp inconveniences physically challenged

Another 60-year-old woman, Veena, on wheelchair complained that there was no ramp inside the school premises. She said, “The department should have made a temporary ramp for today’s camp. It was with great difficulty and with the help of few fellow people that my daughter-in-law was able to make it to this venue. But, it seems our problems will never end.”

Attendants busy sipping tea, having snacks

When we knocked at the door of the mobile van to know why patients were not being called, a person carrying a cup of tea in one hand and biscuits and snacks in the other came out and asked people to wait. He said all will be called by their turn.

Precautionary measures given a go-by

Medicines were provided at different stalls. At one such stall huge rush was witnessed as blood samples were being collected for various tests here. What was shocking is that one of the lab technicians at the stall, Arvinder Singh, from Primary Health Centre, Bhagwan Nagar, was seen collecting blood samples without gloves. When asked why he was not wearing gloves, Arvinder said he had one pair of gloves, which got torn.

Number of tests reduced

Initially, more tests were done. Later, seeing the huge rush of the people the number of tests was restricted. Haemoglobin, blood sugar, blood group were a few tests that were done on the spot.

Hospital staff raise issues with minister

Later, Health Minister visited the Civil Hospital to take stock of the situation. During interaction with the Health Minister, employees raised the issue of staff shortage at the hospital. They said specialists doctors instead of doing their duty had to do many other odd jobs. They also demanded funds for the upgradation of mortuary. “As many as eight to 10 post mortems are done at the Civil Hospital daily. Due to staff crunch it becomes difficult to handle the situation,” they added. They said either DMCH or CMCH should be allowed to conduct post mortems on behalf of the Civil Hospital.