Patiala: Mata Kaushalya Hospital not differently abled-friendly
Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, December 15
The outdoor patient department (OPD) block of Government Mata Kaushalya Hospital is not welcoming to the differently abled.
The building lacks ramps and any lift for the physically challenged to access the first floor where the OPDs for surgery, eye, ENT, skin and psychiatry are located.
Notably, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, says that all public spaces, including government buildings, must have infrastructure to provide accessibility to the differently-abled.
It has been learnt that differently-abled patients have to struggle a lot to reach the first floor. Patients have to take the help of at least two or three persons to visit the doctor on the first floor of the OPD block.
Dr Sandeep Kaur, Medical Superintendent, admitted that the building lacked a ramp for the differently-abled. She said, “Ever since I joined the post, there has been no ramp. I am not aware of why the building lacks ramps for the differently-abled.”
Vijay Walia, a visually-impaired person, said, “It is inhumane on the part of the authorities concerned that differently-abled patients are not facilitated to visit a doctor at the government hospital. Action should be taken against the officials concerned for not protecting the right to equality as per the Disabilities Act.”
Varinder Tiwana, District Social Security Officer, said, “Every government building needs to have ramps for a barrier-free access to differently-abled people. I will look into the matter.”
