Angul: Every Thursday, scores of helmets can be seen kept in a line on the corridor of Angul DHH. Reason: This is done to ensure their slots are secure for the neurologist who visits the DHH only Thursday. Patients or their relatives put their helmets in a queue in front of the doctor’s chamber from Wednesday noon so that they get their appointments with the doctor.
The Angul DHH doesn’t have a permanent neurologist. The DHH authorities get a doctor from outside every Thursday and provide the service.
The problem arises because the doctor comes once in a week and there are hundreds of patients who thronged the DHH to see the doctor on that day. Going to avoid any kind of confusion and conflicts, the DHH authorities would issue 50 tickets. By 8 am Thursdays, no ticket are left, forcing patients, to return home without treatment.
However, to ensure their turn, people have devised a plan. They come to the DHH Wednesdays and put a piece of paper with the name of the patient written on it on the floor in front of the doctor’s chamber and keep their helmets or bags on it and keep waiting for their turns.
It so occurs that local residents try to jump the queue to see the doctor, leading to quarrels with those waiting for long hours. Local residents and patients demanded that the DHH bring the doctor for at least three days a week.
“I have neurological problem. Earlier I had to return home on two occasions without seeing the doctor. So this time I ensured my turn by coming from Wednesday noon and putting my helmet in the queue. If the doctor comes three days a week, many patients would be benefitted,” observed Prasanna Bhutia, a patient from Hindol area.
Another patient Kedar Behera said, “The doctor sees only 50 patients. So, many patients have to return home without treatment, spending money on fares and experiencing a lot of problems. I was lucky for I could get a slot for my helmet in the queue Wednesday.”
Bholeswar Biswal, a patient’s relative, demanded appointment of a permanent neurologist at the DHH.
When contacted, ADMO, Angul DHH, Dr Manas Ranjan Biswal said, “It would be analysed to see whether one doctor is sufficient to attend to patents and thereafter steps would be taken accordingly. The district programme officer (DPM) of the National Health Mission (NHM) would be intimated. The DHH authorities are trying their level best to provide best health care facilities to patients.”
PNN
