Cap on patients in OPDs, long wait at PGIMS-Rohtak

Caption: Patients await their turn at PGIMS in Rohtak. Tribune Photo

Blurb: As per new provisions, 50 patients are to be treated in Neurology OPD and 100 in others on first come-first served basis

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 13

Suman came to the OPD at PGIMS-Rohtak from Sonepat, nearly 50 km away, on Wednesday to get her teenage son treated for a neurological disorder, but could not see a doctor. The reason: 50 patients had already been given registration for the neurology OPD and no more could be accommodated as per new provisions.

Suman’s was not an isolated case as PGIMS reopened 11 OPDs in different clinical specialties and super-specialties from Monday with restrictions to prevent crowding and ensure social distancing. Several patients were found struggling to get treatment on Wednesday because of curtailing of timings/registration schedule and restrictions on number of patients in OPDs. As per new provisions, merely 50 patients are to be treated in Neurology OPD and 100 in others on first come-first served basis.

“My son was undergoing treatment in the Psychiatry Department, but doctors suggested we consult neurologists. So we came to the OPD, but got late as public transport is not available due to the lockdown and we had to arrange a taxi. We hired a taxi for Rs 1,500 but are now going back without treatment,” Suman said.

Sunil, another patient, said she reached the OPD block at 9.30 am, but failed to make it to the first 50 patients of Neurology. “I repeatedly requested the officials to give me a registration number, but they expressed their helplessness saying only 50 patients were allowed in a day to get treatment.”

People coming from distant places were the worst affected. Parveen came all the way from Rewari, but had to return without consulting a doctor as officials refused to issue him an OPD card since he had missed the deadline of 11.30 am. Rohtak resident ML Sharma (75) and Sundra Rani from Fatehabad also faced difficulty in getting treatment for the same reason.