The patient footfall in the hospitals of Dehradun has reduced drastically after the Union Government decided to demonetise the currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500. In the associated hospital of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) here, which is the largest hospital of the State the patient visit has reduced to almost 40 percent. “On normal days 2500 to 2600 patients used to register themselves for the OPDs but from last week this figure has dropped to 1200-1300 per day,’’ said a clerk stationed at the registration counter of the hospital.
People are linking with the drop in patient footfall with the decision of demonetisation. The drop in the patients is also reflected in the cash collection of the hospital. The Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital Dr KK Tamta said that the normal cash collection of the hospital is Rs 2 lakh per day which has dropped to Rs 75000 these days. He said that the hospital is accepting obsolete currency notes as per the instruction of the Government but even then less people are turning up in the hospital. The situation at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital located at Dalanwala is also similar.
The Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the hospital, Dr Bharati Rana said that less than 250 patients are visiting the hospital these days whereas the patient load is of 600-700 on normal days. “less people are visiting the hospitals as they prefer to stand in queues before the banks and ATM to get the cash. People tend to the visit hospitals when they have adequate cash with them,’’ said one of a senior doctors.