Most of the doctors in Women Doon Hospital (associated hospital of Government Doon Medical College-DGMC) come late daily to attend the patients lining up at the OPD in the morning. Patients with serious problems suffer a lot because of the late arrival of the doctors.
A nurse said while insisting on anonymity that the doctors have made it a habit to arrive late. She further said that they had to face the wrath of the waiting patients with the doctors being not in their seats.
When quizzed over the state of things, a lady doctor who has been appointed as administrative officer, admitted that even the lady doctors do the same. However, she hastened to add that in some cases , they come to attend the OPD late as they are pr-occupied with taking care of the old patients.
It was found at OPD-4, Mahila Hospital, where the pregnant are treated, on Saturday that the doctors who are scheduled to turn up at 8 am came as late as 9.30 am. Around 80 patients, all pregnant, were found standing in the queue with their patience wearing thin.
No one was available there to assure them of the time the doctors would arrive. Those who came along with the pregnant women were found moving hither and thither desperately looking for ones who would inform them of the time the doctors would arrive.
Two ASHA Workers too were found waiting along with the patients, with the doctors remaining elusive despite the clock ticking by. They said that things in the state-run medical facility were far from conducive for the expectant mothers.
Queried over the grim state of things prevailing in the hospital, DGMC deputy medical superintendent Dr Meenakshi Joshi said that she had got such complaints a few days ago. “We are all worried. Things must improve at the hospital in no time to spare the patients the suffering they are forced to undergo,” she said.