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Patients visiting the outpatient department of Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital flagged certain concerns – from wheelchairs that are not readily available, long waiting times for seeking medical treatment, to a lack of cleanliness at some of the washrooms.
“There are an inadequate number of wheelchairs, and even if there are a few wheelchairs, we have to wait a long time. There are rarely any attendants to take us from one building to another, so at times it becomes difficult for a person without an attendant to be admitted to the hospital,” Kisan Khalge, 45, a patient at the hospital, said.
“There should be a connecting channel through which patients could be moved as, at present, patients have to be brought in the open amid sweltering heat and rain, thereby increasing the chances of infection,” he added.
For Raju Khude, the general ward is always overcrowded. “This picture has not changed for many years,” Khude said.
Prevailing confusion
Ananta Devi, 27, said, at times, she was clueless which department to go to. “I need to get a sonography done as I am expecting a child, but I have no idea where to go or which department handles it. Even though the case paper mentions it, there are no clear instructions on what exactly needs to be done. It’s very confusing,” she added. Twenty-four-year-old Anuradha Wangai also raised a similar concern: “It’s hard to know which department to go to for what illness. During registration, they ask what’s wrong and send you somewhere, but when you finally reach the doctor, they often tell you to go elsewhere. At least the doctors do listen to our problems, but the process is very unclear.”
Long-waiting time
Babu Dhasade, a patient’s relative who had to purchase medicines at the pharmacy at Sassoon Hospital, noted that several times they were told that the medicines in the prescription were unavailable. “And if indeed they are available, then there is a long waiting time which can be quite bothersome for senior citizens,” he said. “Some of the staff we interacted with were also rude. All we expect is that they should show some dignity while treating us,” Dhasade stated.
For Usha Waghmare, whose granddaughter is suffering from keloids on the ear, the treatment is rather time-consuming. “The registration is quick and simple, but getting treatment takes a lot of time. My granddaughter has keloids on her ear and needs special injections. The problem is that doctors don’t clearly explain the composition or brand of the injection to buy. We had to return and get the right one, which caused delays. Because it’s always crowded, she has to stand in line again and often misses her turn – and sometimes even her treatment,” Waghmare claimed.
Hygiene concerns
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Hygiene concerns were highlighted by a woman regarding the Urine Pregnancy Test (UPT) procedure at Sassoon Hospital. “We are given a pregnancy test kit similar to an at-home version, with a dropper and a test strip. Ideally, we should get a proper container to collect urine before using the dropper. Instead, we’re told to urinate directly into the plastic pouch that holds the test, which is very unhygienic. It is nearly impossible to do this without urine touching our hands or body. There’s also no dustbin in the washroom, so many people throw these used pouches on the floor, increasing the risk of infections like UTIs. To make it worse, there’s no wash basin or soap in the bathroom. Since this washroom is meant for pregnancy testing, it should have basic hygiene facilities to ensure cleanliness and safety,” Madhavi alleged.
Patients, however, acknowledged that the hospital does not pressure them to have a C-section, unlike in most private hospitals.
Official speak
When contacted, Dr Yellapa Jadhav, Medical Superintendent, Sassoon General Hospital, said there were an adequate number of wheelchairs and stretchers. “We have 128 stretchers and 110 wheelchairs,” he added. Hospital authorities also said that renovation works at several outpatient departments are underway, but measures have been taken to ensure that patient care is not affected. Boards have also been installed so that patients can find the appropriate departments that they have to go to. “A proper plan is in place to ensure the availability of medicines,” an official said.
(Aarushi Prakash & Shubham Kurale are interns with The Indian Express)
