Excelsior Correspondent
BHADARWAH, Dec 17: On 95th day of dharna under the banner of Bhadarwah Hospital Bachao Front a protest march was organised, which after passing through various markets of the town culminated in Seri Bazar where effigy of the Lok Sabha Member was burnt to express anger against him for adopting stoic silence over the issue.
A large number of people belonging to different socio-politico-religious organisations participated in the protest march. The protestors were demanding restoration of SDH in the old hospital complex that has been locked after shifting it to the new complex at Dandi about 5 KMs away from the densely populated town.
Quoting examples of various patients about their sorry account of experience of the new hospital the leaders of Bhadarwah Hospital Bachao Front described the decision of shifting the hospital to new complex as most illogical and irrational, which has become source of perennial source of unrest for people of Bhadarwah on healthcare front. “Except a large building the new hospital lacks everything that makes the building a hospital. The new hospital has shortage of doctors, paramedics and everything that a patient needs is missing.
“I have spent about 10 days in the new hospital as a patient, where I had to spend Rs. 500 per day to bring meals, hot water bottle, milk and medicines by my attendants. I have been operated upon and my wound is yet to heal, but I cannot afford to remain admitted furthermore not only for expensive transport facility, but for the killing chill in the wards also”, revealed Ramesh Kumar a patient from Atkhar area adding that a patient who has once experienced medication in the new hospital building at Dandi will never like to get admission there rather he will prefer to go to Doda or Jammu for treatment.
Lambasting the authorities for adopting a rigid stand on the sensitive issue, the Front leaders said that the anger of people was increasing with every passing day. “Instead of making the shifting of hospital a prestige point, the authorities should adopt a realistic approach by shifting the SDH back to the old building in broad public interest,” said Front Convener, Ranbir Manhas.
He said the new building should be made operational only when the sanctioned strength of 37 doctors beside other paramedic staff is made available to it claiming that running two hospitals at different locations with mere five or six doctors is practically impossible.
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