From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Jowai Civil Hospital – the only 100-bedded government hospital in Jaintia Hills district – is overcrowded with patients having to accommodate themselves in the corridors and passages, sometimes on benches and even on the floor at times.
The hospital caters to patients from all over Jaintia Hills which has a total population of around 3 lakh.
Hospital authorities say that despite having a capacity of only 100, the doctors have to increase the accommodation capacity but on humanitarian grounds in order to help those patients who are admitted with serious medical complaints. Such patients, at times, have to sleep on the floor or are provided benches if available. Those accompanying the patients often join two benches together to make a temporary bed for the patients till the time they are discharged after treatment.
Patients and their relatives are, however, not complaining. The relatives are all praise for the doctors who have at least admitted their loved ones in the hospital even when there are no beds available.
“We don’t mind sleeping on the ground or on the benches. What is most important to us is to get medical treatment and go home hale and hearty,” said a woman, who was taking care of her five-year-old child, admitted at the hospital on Sunday morning.
Shortage of medicines is one of the major problems faced by patients. According to the patients and their attendants, at least 60 per cent of the medicines prescribed by the doctors have to be procured from private pharmacies located in the vicinity of the hospital.
Hospital Superintendent, Dr. P Syngkon, informed that the supply of medicines has improved when compared with the past. “Whatever medicines are available are provided to the patients from the hospital but if some medicines are not available with us we ask them to buy from outside,” Dr. Syngkon said.
Overcrowding and shortage of medicines are not the only problems at the hospital. Workload is another problem faced by para-medical and medical staff of the hospital. The hospital has shortage of over 55 staff nurses. Presently, only 23 staff nurses are engaged in both day and night shifts.
Sources said, as per norms, the Jowai Civil Hospital should have at least 78 staff nurses.
A few days back there were 21 specialist doctors and 3 general doctors serving in the hospital, but with the recent transfer of four specialist doctors, the hospital is facing acute shortage of medical staff.
The hospital is equipped with X-ray machine, Endoscopy, Trauma Centre and others facilities, but for the last three months, the main X-ray machine has been nonfunctional due to some technical problems.
Doctors have not been able to make use of the Endoscopy and Trauma centre due to unknown reasons. According to some doctors, the problem lies in heavy workload and shortage of man power.
“Everything has been set up in place including a blood bank but there is no man power to keep these facilities functional for the greater benefit of the patients,” said a doctor.
