PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
As monsoon intensifies, the BD Pandey District Hospital is receiving an increased number of patients. While Monday saw 550 patients at the outpatient department, the number remains nearly the same on Tuesday too. The doctors said that the majority were suffering from colds, fevers, viral infections and other seasonal illnesses.
A senior physician, Dr Mahiman Singh Dugtal said that the rain spells are affecting the children the most. “The elderly people are falling sick, too,” he added. He further advised the people not to get drenched in the rain. “If they do, they should change into dry clothes at the earliest,” he said.
“If fever, cough or other symptoms persist, they should immediately consult a doctor instead of taking medicine on their own,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, with two gynaecologists being on leave at hospital, the pregnant women
who need medical care are in trouble.
Notably, three gynaecologists normally operate in the district hospital. While two of them are currently on leave, the third one, Dr Draupadi Garbiyal is now holding the additional charge of chief medical superintendent and director, Health.
The hospital sources said that although normal deliveries are being conducted as usual, caesarean and complicated delivery surgeries are being affected. Many pregnant women who need immediate healthcare are being referred to higher centres.
Asked to comment, the in-charge PMS, Dr Draupadi Garbiyal said that they are aware of the problems the patients are facing. “Things will return to normal once one of the two doctors currently on leave returns,” she added.
Apart from this, with the posts of ultrasound technicians remaining vacant at the largest government-run health facility, technicians from other hospitals are being called in to do the service temporarily. Still, patients are not receiving timely services. Many of them are returning disappointed.
As per the hospital sources, the ultrasound technician, posted at the hospital, went on educational leave for higher education last year. Thereafter, a technician from Champawat district hospital was attached to Nainital. Meanwhile, during the recent transfers in the state, the technician posted at Champawat district hospital was also transferred and following this, he stopped coming to Nainital.
Queried over the matter, Dr Garbiyal stated that technicians from the Base Hospital are being called here for three days in a week. “We have taken up the matter related to permanent appointment of technicians at the directorate level,” she added.
