Functioning as Civil Hospital takes its toll on Jalandhar ESI Hospital

Aparna Banerji

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 12

The responsibilities of the 550-bed Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, were put on the 100-bed ESI Hospital since March end, when the Civil Hospital was converted into a full-time Covid centre for level 2 and 3 centres. The ESI Hospital, which started operating with little staff, old electric wiring, choked sewerage and poor infrastructure, is more or less in the same condition today even after six months.

After six months of functioning as civil hospital during the peak of the Covid pandemic, the ESI Hospital was finally relieved of its additional duties today. With a reduction in the number of Covid cases, the Civil Hospital resumed functioning as civil hospital.

About a month ago, the ESI Hospital was in the eye of a controversy after two patients admitted there were found abandoned near the Domoriah bridge. It currently operates with nearly 50 per cent staff and only one fifth of the bed strength of the Civil Hospital. The 100-bed hospital with 45 to 50 beds occupied on average does not even have the infrastructure or staff to house the dengue isolation ward during its run.

Also grossly understaffed, the hospital languishes due to some retirements recently. Of the five posts of medical officer, only two are filled. Of 40 posts of class four employees at the hospital, only six are filled. Of 25 posts of nurse, only 11 are filled and of 25 posts of sweepers only eight are filled. The hospital also does not have adequate lab technicians.

Facing undue electricity cuts until recently due to very old wiring, a substitute line was recently laid by the authorities to address the issue. Even during the pandemic, the hospital witnessed as long as five-hour cuts at times. A choked sewerage line is another issue the hospital grapples with.

The hospital also lacks specialist doctors. There is no radiologist to operate the ultrasound machine even as the number of patients is rising.

The six staff nurses, three ward attendants and two sweepers — who were provided recently — left after the patients were shifted to the Civil Hospital today.

ESI Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Loveleen Garg said, “We have an erratic electricity supply. Besides, we have no lifts and no ventilators. The sewerage is choked. The work of the Civil Hospital was somehow managed in the 100-bed hospital. Our building is in a shambles and we are severely understaffed. Three of our ward attendants work as assistants in an emergency, labs and wards. We manage with three class four employees in three shifts as two have to be put in OT and OPD.”