[17:08, 19/7/2024] Rahul Namasudra: Despite boasting modern amenities like air conditioners and special cabins the Dhalai District Hospital is failing to deliver basic comfort to patients battling extreme heat. The hospital catering to nearly 471100 people across the Dhalai district suffers from malfunctioning AC units and insufficient fans leaving patients sweltering in wards.
This disturbing reality came to light after a patient’s son who wished to remain anonymous shared his harrowing experience at the facility. His father admitted for cardiac and gastric issues on July 4th endured scorching temperatures in the Medicine Male Ward 2.
“It was incredibly hot there were supposed to be six ACs in the ward but none of them were working. There were some fans but they were barely moving air. It felt like an oven in there” recounted the son.
The son’s curiosity led him to discover a bizarre situation. The outdoor unit of the AC meant for the well-equipped Ward 1 reserved for armed forces personnel was installed right in front of Ward 2’s perpetually open door. This configuration essentially pumped hot air into the ward meant for regular patients.
“I couldn’t believe it the AC unit that was supposed to be cooling down the special ward was actually making our ward even hotter!” he said.
The excessive heat worsened the existing health conditions. One patient’s wife revealed her husband’s plight. “My husband has high blood pressure and the heat in the ward was making it worse” she said.
“He was barely able to walk and after three days in that stifling heat his condition deteriorated significantly. We had to shift him to a different hospital in Agartala for proper care” she added.
Another patient’s son-in-law initially healthy felt unwell and complained of breathing problems after just one night at the hospital’s Medicine Male Ward 2.
“I came here to stay with my father-in-law but after spending one night in that ward I wasn’t feeling well myself. The heat was unbearable and I started having trouble breathing. It’s ridiculous that a hospital is supposed to make you feel better but this place is making people sicker” he explained.
The report further exposes alleged preferential treatment. The patient’s son recounted the nurses’ dismissive response to his request for a functioning AC cabin although he was ready to pay the bed fees.
“When I asked the nurses if there were any rooms available with working AC they rudely replied” he said. “They basically told me to deal with it.”
However his account described a stark contrast later that night. “Around 1 AM another patient arrived with a big group of people I saw them talking to the nurses for a while and then somehow they ended up getting an air-conditioned room. It seems like if you know the right people you get better treatment at this hospital even if it means putting other patients at risk” he said.
This account paints a grim picture of the Dhalai District Hospital – a place where modern equipment like AC units and sophisticated beds lie idle failing to serve their purpose.
One patient’s wife even shared a “funny incident” that exposed the mismanagement. “The Medical Superintendent Dr. Bidhan Bhowmik came to show off the newly inaugurated Cardiac Care Unit with his family” she said. “While he was there he tried to open a door and it broke right in his hand. It was kind of funny but also sad at the same time. It seems like everything at this hospital is broken not just the ACs.”
The Dhalai District Hospital serves as a crucial health care facility for a large population. However malfunctioning infrastructure and potential mismanagement are putting patient well-being at risk. This situation demands immediate attention from the authorities to ensure the proper functioning of essential amenities and prevent needless suffering.
The hospital administration needs to investigate these allegations and take steps to ensure fair treatment for all patients. Furthermore a thorough inspection of the AC units and fans is necessary to identify and rectify any underlying issues.