Elevators at cancer hospital await repair, patients suffer
Sameer Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 17
Cancer patients are having a tough time as elevators at Advanced Cancer Institute and Hospital (ACI) in Bathinda have been lying non-functional. Besides, a sizeable number of patients have to sit on floors of the outpatient departments (OPDs) in the absence of a seating arrangement. With a few ROs also lying defunct, it has added to the miseries of scores of cancer patients who visit the hospital for treatment on a daily basis.
Elderly, physically challenged and critical patients are suffering the most.
A 75-year-old cancer patient, Baljit Kaur, who had come to ACI from Guruharsahai, Ferozepur district, to get treatment, was left gasping for air while she was climbing up a ramp. “If the lifts are not working then at least the hospital authorities must ensure that there are wheelchairs. My mother couldn’t even muster up the courage to climb the ramp, but after much insistence, she relented. However, halfway through the ramp her condition started deteriorating,” said the patient’s daughter.
Another cancer patient said since the OPD was on first floor, they had to either take the stairs or climb up the ramp, making it extremely difficult for them each time.
The patient said, “Lifts are perpetually in a state of repair. The government has utilised funds amounting to crores of rupees to establish such big hospitals, with plush buildings, but has failed to ensure basic facilities for hassle-free movement of patients. The hospital authorities must also ensure that there is adequate seating arrangement so that patients do not have to sit on floors or recline against walls while waiting for their turn outside the OPDs.”
Dr Deepak Arora, medical superintendent-cum-officiating director, Advanced Cancer Institute and Hospital, said, “After a recent spell of rain, water has accumulated near the duct area of the hospital building. So, to avoid short circuit, we have stopped lifts for now. But they will be resumed soon. The seating capacity at the OPDs has increased given the increase in inflow of patients over the years.”
