Grappling with inflow of destitute patients

Jalandhar, September 25

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a different kind of emergency haunts the ESI Hospital in the city. Increasing number of destitute patients had been admitted to the hospital. At one point, there were eight unidentified patients at the hospital. At present, there are such six patients, including three men and three women.

As the shelter homes and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) refuse to take accept the patients, they are referred to the ESI Hospital.

An elderly COPD patient who tested Covid-19 negative has been at the hospital for the past many days. Another 12-year-old child, who was stabbed, has been here for more than a week. Operated upon by Dr Mukesh Chandra and Dr Rajiv Sharma, the child is still serious.

Raju (60) and a 15-year-old Bikram, who was abandoned at Domoriah Bridge, have sordid tales. Raju used to stay on the footpath in Adarsh Nagar and was admitted to the hospital after he fell into a manhole and injured his pelvic bone. His injury has healed but his back is still riddled with sores.

Bikram said he used to work as a labourer and he suffered injury after entering into a scuffle. His phone got damaged in the melee, which was his only means to connect with his family in Bihar. He came to Punjab around two months ago. The hospital also has patients from the well-to-do families.

Dr Loveleen Garg said, “Selective surgeries have been stopped due to Covid-19, but was conducted in the case of 12-year-old child as it was an emergency. We are grappling with a steady inflow of underprivileged patients. These patients are fed by our staff. Requests to the shelter homes and NGOs are proving futile.” — TNS