Where stray dogs occupy hospital beds

Gorakhpur: Finding a dog relaxing on a patient's bed is usually enough to evoke any officials' fury or cause the suspension of junior staff at any hospital. But at Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College, such scenes are a routine affair.

A chance visit to Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College, once considered one of the prestigious institutions in Uttar Pradesh, can dissuade anyone seeking admission for his or her family member.

Struggling with a shortage of staff, the prevailing conditions inside the various wards of the hospital contribute to the pitiable condition of admitted patients.

While there are a few beds being used by patients, many vacant beds are found occupied by stray dogs.

Patients complain they don't get enough nurses in most of the wards. In case of an immediate requirement or an emergency, it is the attendants who have to track them.

"This is an emergency ward and there is no nurse here. Just think if this is the condition of an emergency ward, what will happen to general wards," says an attendant Rinku Singh.

"It is very difficult. We have to go and hunt for a nurse when there is need for changing the glucose drips," says another attendant Nasiruddin Khan.

The duty rooms of the nurses lie vacant and filthy. The ward boys too are not seen in and around the hospital premises.

Fearing ramifications for the admitted patients, the relatives do not wish to utter any word to media.

The doctor comes for general round once a day. The authorities of the college, when approached, accepted the mismanagement in the hospital administration.

"We have had discussions regarding this at the secretary level. We have tried our best to find some solution, many of the problems been solved. A number of lecturers have come from the commission to different departments. So, we believe that the vacancies will be filled in soon," says Principal BRD Medical College, Dr Rakesh Saxena.

With the dengue fever causing almost regular deaths and affecting thousands of patients around the country, the situation at the Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College is alarming to say the least.