The Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), which is one of the premier hospitals in north India, has been losing its sheen due to mismanagement, especially in the ultrasound department. Due to the indifferent behaviour, patients, especially pregnant women, have been undergoing harrowing experience everyday.
Their apathy can be gauged from the fact that if a patient, including a pregnant woman, goes for check-up at the outdoor patient department (OPD), the doctor advises them to go for Ultra Sonography (USG).
Most patients blame that if one visits HIHT for medical complication, one would have to visit another day too. Interestingly, patients get their refund easily, but the management simply does not bother to find out why they are taking their refunds.
After prescription, the patient has to stay in queue for payment; thereafter, they have to take a number from counter no 45 of the X-ray and ultrasound department. Here, they issue the number to the patient about their turn, but they do not say how long they have to wait. later, the patient has to reach the USG department, where assisting staff do not bother to inform them about how many hours they have to wait with a full bladder because that is mandatory for USG. This is particularly problematic for women, who have to wait very long.
On Wednesday, a patient (registration no 1464919) went to Gynaecology at 10 am. later, she had to stay in long queue for renewal of her prescription and, thereafter, she reached the department at 10.30 am. The doctor then asked her to come along with USG report. She paid the fee at counter no 10 at 11.28 am and approached counter no 45 at 11.35 am and later she managed to reach the USG counter at 12 am. Till 1.30 pm she had to wait with a full bladder with a hope that her turn will come soon. She lost her patience at 1.40pm and decided to get refund of the fee. She had to return from hospital without any medical advise with hope in god only.
Another woman, who came here to get her husband USG from Rishikesh, said that in OPD the doctor asked her husband to get USG done, had to wait till 2 pm. She was blaming that now they will get her husband USG after lunch and meanwhile doctor will leave OPD. Now same doctor will meet on Friday. It means patient will have to stay without medication till Friday.
When The Pioneer visited the USG section on Wednesday, three out of four USGs were operational. The staff did not bother to apprise the patients about the actual position and most of the patients were waiting with full bladders because once they ease themselves and doctors call them, they will have to wait for another one hour to fill their bladder.
When The Pioneer talked to the Public Relation office (PRO) about such delay, he said, “Everyday, we come across with similar problems and we have passed this to the administrative department as well. later, they offered me complaint register to lodge the complaints,” he said. On behalf of patients, The Pioneer lodged a complaint in the medical superintendent’s office with the hope that the situation will improve.