Absence of public transport declines footfalls of patients at district hospital
PNS | DEHRADUN
Due to the absence of public transportation facilities in proximity to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay District Hospital, the hospital administration has observed a decline in patient attendance. Many patients have voiced concerns regarding the absence of public transport options available to reach the district hospital. Notably, the district hospital is situated farther from the city centre compared to the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC), making convenient transportation a challenge for patients trying to access the facility.
In light of this situation, a patient named Heena Dimri, who resides in the Kedarpur area of Dehradun, expressed her difficulties. She said that she has been suffering from asthma and must frequently visit the hospitals. However, the lack of direct public transportation to the hospital complicates her travels, often resulting in higher costs. Dimri said that she took Vikram to reach Dharampur, and from there, she was required to hire an expensive auto-rickshaw to arrive at the district hospital. Given this situation, the hospital management and the State government should take appropriate action, she stated.
“This is my first visit to the district hospital. However, I faced challenges reaching the facility due to the absence of public transport options. Therefore, I have decided that in the future, I will seek treatment at GDMC, as it is centrally located in the city and more accessible for patients,” stated another patient, Ravi Kumar.
Numerous other patients and their companions have voiced similar concerns regarding the insufficient public transport facilities at the district hospital.
Regarding this, medical superintendent of the hospital Dr VS Chauhan said that that the hospital administration has acknowledged the concerns and challenges patients face in reaching the facility due to insufficient transportation options. He noted that as a result, patient visits have decreased compared to those at GDMC. Previously, the hospital administration brought this matter to the state government’s attention. The absence of public transportation may be indirectly associated with the school located in the vicinity of the hospital. This lack of transportation options may be attributed to mitigating traffic and ensuring students’ safety. However, to address the concerns of patients and increase visitation, the state administration must consider this issue and take appropriate action, he added.
