PNS | DEHRADUN
Due to the insufficient number of cardiologists at the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital, patients have raised concerns about the lengthy waiting times for treatment. Currently, only one cardiologist, Dr Amar Upadhyaya is available to serve in both the OPD and IPD departments. As a result, the OPD services for individuals with heart conditions are offered only three days a week. This limitation has led patients to worry, as it sometimes results in a significant influx of individuals within the hospital.
A patient, Monica Dixit, who has been suffering from heart conditions for several years, expressed her concerns regarding this issue. She said that she visits the cardiology department for check-ups frequently and has noticed that the shortage of cardiologists makes it increasingly challenging for patients to attend their routine appointments. At times, she has had to leave the hospital after waiting in a long queue and then return the following day or even the next week. This issue stems from having only one cardiologist available, which prevents him from attending to a large number of patients. Further, the cardiologist’s limited OPD days lead to the arrival of a considerable number of patients during that time. In light of this, the authorities should take action and appoint a new cardiologist at the hospital promptly, she said.
“I have noticed that due to the presence of only one cardiologist at the hospital, patients with heart conditions have to wait up to a week for a consultation. Since the OPD is restricted to just three days and there is only one cardiologist, this results in three days dedicated to OPD and rest for IPD. Consequently, the number of patients has increased, leading some individuals to leave without a consultation and return on the designated OPD day. I have personally experienced the inconvenience of having to return multiple times. This issue should be addressed by the authorities,”said another patient Om Singh.
Numerous patients have echoed concerns regarding the longstanding issue of the shortage of cardiologists at the State’s biggest government hospital, which has exacerbated challenges for patients, including delays in treatment and extended wait times.
In response to these concerns, chief medical superintendent Dr RS Bisht acknowledged that the shortage of cardiologists is indeed troubling for both the patients and doctors, as one cardiologist is required to manage both OPD and IPD. However, the hospital administration has been effectively addressing the situation. Further, to find a permanent solution to this shortage, the administration is considering hiring new cardiologists for the roles of associate professor and professor at GDMC. It is anticipated that these positions will soon be filled due to the current enhanced salary structure at the facility. Dr Bisht emphasised that with the improved pay structure, the overall conditions at the hospital have been recovering with time.
