Sir — It is shocking that a patient had to use his own amputated leg as headrest while moving in a stretcher in a Government-run hospital in Uttar Pradesh. Government hospitals need to refurbish its sagging image if the patients have to develop confidence to come to their hospitals. State Health Minister should periodically visit the hospitals and find out if there is any problem in meeting basic needs of the patients. This incident is a telling on the sorry state of affairs of Government hospitals. Healthcare is in shambles and needs urgent attention. Preventive steps rather than curative steps are desirable.