TRIPUNITHURA: Inadequate staff and mismanagement ails the Government Ayurveda College Hospital, Dhanwanthari Nagar, Puthiyakaavu. Though there are qualified doctors and other infrastructure facilities the hospital is “sick” from poor management, inadequate staff, lack of medicines and improper maintenance. And the patients are at the receiving end. Unlike allopathy, ayurvedic treatment has to follow a strict regimen and the facilities here are proving inadequate to meet these requirements. Despite the authorities being aware that ayurvedic treatment demands hot water bath for almost all the patients, the only water heater in the general ward is out of order. Though there is a solar heater atop the five story building, patients say that even this is not functioning now. And they are now either keeping a stove or buying hot water. There is also lack of adequate amenities like wheel chair and bedsheets.Patients allege that in government Ayurveda hospitals elsewhere the ingredients needed for the treatment is provided by the hospital authorities. But at Tripunithura these are supplied by a lobby controlled by daily wages staff and supplies are charged `250 for a week. A difference of opinion among these staff has now created shortage in the supply of ingredients.Patients also allege that the care given to those in general ward is inferior. “If you are admitted to a general ward, the care given is poor and it will take more than four to five months to recover from the ailment,” said a hapless patient who has been undergoing treatment for more than three months”.As there is no permanent staff nurse, it is the helpers of the patients who take them to the ‘Kriya’ room and back. Experts say this is dangerous as the helper would not know the sensitive nature of the body that is undergoing treatment. Even a small twist or turn of the body may lead to critical situation like a stroke,” fears the patient.Recently a safety pin was found inside a ‘Kizhi’ made for treatment. The ill-fated patient had to bear the pain through the entire session.”Later, when he complained, the authorities tried for an amicable settlement”, said a patient.The Ayurveda College Hospital Development Committee collect funds under various heads including a fixed charge for treatments like ‘Kizhi’. A large amount is also collected as parking fee. However, with these limitations, the doctors are curing patients. The case of a youth whose nervous system was totally damaged in a bike accident is an ideal example. When all the allopathic doctors gave up hope, the four-year-long systematic treatment at this hospital enabled him to move and to speak properly. However, there were some glitches along the way. One night when his condition turned critical, there was no electric supply, and as the generator was also not working, the doctors had to depend on cigarette lamps to carry out the treatment.
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