Photo : TDM
Narail Sadar Hospital is the only hospital in Narail that caters to 8 lakh people living in the area as there are no private hospitals or medical colleges in the area.
However patients face severe crisis in providing medical services due to the acute shortage of doctors and cleaners.
The hospital, with a capacity of 100 beds, is overwhelmed with 300 to 320 daily admissions, and an additional 1000 patients seeking treatment in the outpatient department. With only 16 doctors out of the required 39 and no government-employed cleaners, patients are left waiting in distress for extended periods, compromising their medical care.
Out of the 39 sanctioned doctor posts, 23 remain vacant, including 9 senior consultant positions. This shortage of medical staff has been ongoing, leading to prolonged waiting times and compromised healthcare for patients.
The absence of a single government-employed cleaner has resulted in an outsourcing of cleaning services, leading to a dirty and malodorous environment around the hospital. Patients' suffering has multiplied due to unhygienic conditions and rodent infestation.
The 100-bed hospital is grappling with an overwhelming number of patients, resulting in medical treatment being conducted on floors. Moreover, a promised 250-bed building, intended to ease the burden, remains incomplete, exacerbating patient hardship.
Dr. Abdul Gaffar, the hospital supervisor, has alerted the authorities about the dire situation. Requests to fill vacant posts and expedite the construction of the 250-bed building have been made, but concrete solutions are yet to be implemented.
Elderly patients like the woman pictured, are forced to sit on the hospital floor for prolonged periods without receiving medical attention. Many others endure similar situations daily, underscoring the urgency of addressing the staffing and facility shortages.
TDM/SD
