No beds, no medicines

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Poor patients face tough times at PIMS, Polyclinic

By Mahtab Bashir

ISLAMABAD: Shortage of beds and medicines coupled with impolite behaviour of doctors and staff irks the poor patients and their attendants at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Services Hospital, commonly known as Polyclinic.

During a visit to both these hospitals, Daily Times found that seriously ill patients were waiting for treatment, as the hospitals’ staff told them that no beds were available.

Talking to this correspondent, patients at PIMS said they continued to confront problems despite the fact that the hospital had undergone considerable expansion over the last 25 yeasrs and new facilities were introduced to meet growing needs of patients.

Similarly, patients at Polyclinic narrated the same agonizing story and complained the hospital’s staff told them to come later since there was not sufficient number of beds at the hospital.

“I have been waiting here in this long queue for the last four hours but the doctor has not arrived yet,” said Nadeem Khan, a patient, standing outside the Orthopedic Department.

A large number of patients were seen lying on the floor in the Emergency Department. Attendants of patients told Daily Times that normally medicines and beds were not available in the department. “Patients are advised either to seek admission to private wards or wait for their turns to get a bed,” they said adding that many a times even serious patients were discharged because of unavailability of beds.

Syed Zafar Ali Shah, a heart patient, said that the doctor had advised him to go for a test from a private laboratory in Blue Area. “Medicines prescribed by the doctor are also not available at the hospital’s pharmacy,” he complained adding patients requiring ECHO, angiography and ETT tests were asked to visit the hospital after two or three months.

Patients also complained about the food available at the hospital’s cafeteria saying it was not hygienic. Car-parking fee is another issue that vexes them.

According to the data provided by the hospital sources, over 4,000 patients daily visit the Out Patient Department (OPD) of whom 25 percent are new visitors, while the remaining 75 percent are those who come to the hospital for follow-up tests.

At Polyclinic, patients also complained about shortage of medicines and harsh attitude of doctors towards them. “Often prescribed medicines are not available at the hospital’s dispensary so patients have to go outside and purchase them,” they added.

Tanvir Ahmed, a government employee, alleged that the hospital staff provided facilities only to recommended people while the others were ignored. “Doctors do not check patients properly and nurses’ behaviour towards poor patients is like that of stepmothers,” Ahmed added.

Hospital sources told Daily Times that since its inception in 1960, Polyclinic had not been expanded to cater for the requirements of growing number of patients.

Relatives and attendants demanded the government provides better medical facilities to patients including beds, medicines, wheelchairs and also proper security.