A visit to the Sector 6 Civil Hospital in Panchkula on Sunday revealed deplorable conditions, highlighting the hospital’s struggles with overcrowding and maintenance.
As The Indian Express correspondents entered the hospital, an unpleasant odour filled the air. Scores of patients, including men, women, and children, were seen lying on the floor, awaiting treatment. Long queues snaked through the corridors, with many patients forced to wait for hours. Some blocks were air-conditioned, while others had to endure the intense heat of summer with only fans offering some relief. As some time passed, frustration boiled over, leading to heated arguments among those in line, who had been waiting for an extended period.
The situation worsened by the lack of seating, with the few available chairs mostly occupied, leaving many to stand or sit on the floor. The hospital’s corridors were also found to be in a state of disarray, with fluid on the floor posing a slipping hazard to patients and staff. The hospital’s infrastructure was also found to be in a state of disrepair, with the staircase and lift walls stained with patches of gutka and pan masala spits, adding to the overall sense of neglect and decay.
Anuj, a frustrated patient who accompanied his mother for kidney stone treatment, shared his experience with the hospital. “I’ve been coming here frequently, and unfortunately, the staff’s behaviour is sometimes rude and uncooperative,” he said. “Even minor tests take an inordinate amount of time, and reports are delayed, sometimes taking a whole day to receive and then another day to get it reviewed by the doctors.”
Anuj’s concerns were compounded by the lack of adequate seating arrangements. He was forced to sit on a side structure in the corridor, like many others, due to a scarcity of chairs. “It’s unacceptable that a hospital of this scale doesn’t have sufficient seating for its patients and their families,” he added.
Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Daria village in Chandigarh, has been frequently visiting the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, for the past three months, seeking treatment for his wife’s gynaecological issues. Despite being in the prestigious PGIMER hospital in Chandigarh’s proximity, Gurpreet prefers the Sector 6 hospital due to its relatively smaller patient load, which ensures more personalised attention and care. Additionally, the hospital’s in-house medicine dispensary is a significant advantage, unlike PGIMER, which often leaves patients scrambling to procure prescribed medications.
However, during a follow-up visit in the evening, the rush had subsided, and the queues had shortened.
During the evening visit, few nurses and ward boys were seen moving around, attending to patients. Upon speaking with one of the nurses, it became clear that the hospital has various departments, each with its own set of challenges. The staff’s insights provided a glimpse into the hospital’s inner workings and the difficulties faced by the staff while managing with a lot of people in a day.
According to Dr Umesh Modi, Principal Medical Officer of Civil Hospital at Sector 6, Panchkula, there are a sufficient number of chairs and seating areas in the hospital. However, adding more seating would be a challenge as it would hinder the movement of stretchers and wheelchairs for other staff members. During peak hours, patients may have to queue and stand outside the OPD.
Modi assured that there are enough doctors to handle the workload, but sometimes some of them need to be deployed in the field for tasks such as medical checkups at stadiums or attending Haryana Medical Council enquiries.
Regarding the unpleasant smell, the medical officer explained that the D block does not have centralised air conditioning. However, the hospital has employed three cleaners in the emergency ward to maintain cleanliness. He highlighted that the hospital has the largest emergency ward at the district level, with 50 beds operating daily.
The hospital receives approximately 150-200 admissions per day, and despite having a sanctioned strength of 300 beds, the hospital manages to accommodate 370-380 admitted patients. He is optimistic that the new building under construction will help alleviate overcrowding, as the paediatric and gynaecology wards will be shifted there.
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