The Deen Dayal Upadhyay (Coronation) Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Dehradun. Many people are aware of this hospital but inspite of having this Government hospital in the city, the number of patients availing this facility is less as compared to other hospitals. The reason behind this is that there is no public transport to the Curzon Road where this hospital is located.
Though one can travel to the hospital by auto rickshaw, the high fare of these three-wheelers makes most people avoid this mode of public transport.When this correspondent visited the hospital, there were few people in the premises, presenting a very different picture than that of the Doon Hospital which is bustling with visiting patients and their relatives. The hospital Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Bharti Rana said that the hospital has all necessary equipment to provide proper medical treatment but still the number of patients visiting here is less only because of the lack of public transport in the area.
“If proper public transport facility is provided then the number of patients visiting the hospital will definitely increase. Most of patients are from middle class section of society and it is uneconomical for them to hire an auto rickshaw and that is why they prefer other hospitals in the town,” said Dr Rana. She also mentioned the number of doctors in the hospital is also less which might be related to the fact that limited numbers of people visit the hospital. Though the hospital has best dialysis and heart care centre in the State capital, there is no eye surgeon in the hospital, she added. She also said that she wants the Coronation Hospital to be like the Doon Hospital and she will definitely work for that. But at the same time convenient transportation facility is also necessary for the patients as they will always prefer a hospital which is easily accessible so that they can access medical treatment without delay or inconvenience.