Overwhelmed OPD at Mayaganj Hospital; Massive Crowds of Patients
Bhagalpur: The OPD services at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH), locally known as 'Mayaganj Hospital,' are once again a topic of concern due to massive crowds and systemic mismanagement. Patients and their relatives coming for treatment are struggling for hours amidst scorching heat and chaotic conditions.
A State of Crisis in the OPD
At the start of the week, the OPD at Mayaganj Hospital experiences immense patient pressure. The situation is such that long queues form from the registration counters all the way to the doctors' chambers. Patients have to wait for hours just to get their registration slips. The lack of space and the oppressive humidity in the main hall of the OPD building are causing severe distress to patients; especially women and the elderly, who are facing great difficulty in finding a place to sit.
Patients Struggling Against Heat and Resource Shortages
The situation becomes even more grim outside the ultrasound, X-ray, and pathology centers. A chaotic scramble often ensues among patients and their relatives for tests and report collection. Patients state that due to the lack of adequate arrangements inside the hospital during this severe heat, many are experiencing symptoms like dizziness. Hospital Deputy Superintendent Dr. Suresh Prasad Singh inspected the situation and has issued instructions to organize the queues for the X-ray center and testing areas to curb the disorder.
Issues at the Registration Counter and Future Plans
More than two thousand patients arrive at the hospital daily for treatment, placing excessive pressure on the OPD building. Although the hospital administration has approved the construction of a new, modern registration counter outside the OPD building, the work has not yet begun on the ground. Hospital Superintendent Dr. HP Dubey stated that construction of the new registration counter will begin as soon as the mortuary work is completed, which will provide relief to the patients.
Incidents of Fraud in the Name of Security
Taking advantage of the mismanagement, anti-social elements active in the hospital premises are preying on the relatives of patients. Recently, a youth who was extorting money by posing as a doctor was caught red-handed and handed over to the Barari police. This incident confirms that the hospital's security and monitoring arrangements are in dire need of being strengthened.
Mayaganj Hospital, which is the center of healthcare for millions of people in Bhagalpur and surrounding districts, is in urgent need of improvements in basic amenities. Despite administrative claims, the delays in services and the prevailing chaos are raising questions about the administration's functioning.
