In a shocking display of administrative neglect and inadequate infrastructure, a middle-aged woman was forced to carry her injured mother into the Erode District Government Headquarters Hospital after being denied the use of a stretcher. The incident has ignited widespread criticism of the DMK government’s handling of healthcare facilities.
A video clip that went viral on social media this week shows Valarmathi, struggling to carry her 65-year-old mother, P. Sorna, who was in severe pain from a leg injury sustained in a car accident. The footage captures the distressing scene of Valarmathi taking breaks to manage her mother’s weight as she made her way into the hospital.
The incident occurred on May 27, when Sorna, a resident of Periya Valasu in Erode, was rushed to the hospital after being hit by a bike. Upon arrival, Valarmathi requested a stretcher from the hospital staff, but her pleas were ignored. Reports suggest that staff instructed her to first obtain an outpatient (OP) registration slip, forcing her to carry her mother yet again to complete this task.
According to witnesses, without bribing or greasing the staff, nothing would move in the hospital. This pervasive corruption is indicative of the broader systemic issues plaguing the state-run healthcare institutions under the current administration.
The video, shot by a bystander at the hospital, has sparked outrage across social media platforms, bringing to light the severe deficiencies in the healthcare system. Critics argue that the government has shown little concern for the poor, who rely on these facilities for treatment.
In response to the public outcry, the district’s Joint Director of Health Services, Ambika Shanmugam, issued a memo on May 28 to the hospital superintendent, Dr K Venkatesh and Resident Medical Officer Dr. Sasirekh, demanding an explanation for the failure to provide a stretcher to the injured senior citizen.
This incident is not an isolated one; it reflects the ongoing struggles faced by patients in government-run hospitals across Tamil Nadu. Despite the state’s claims of improvements in healthcare infrastructure, stories like Valarmathi’s reveal a starkly different reality for many citizens, especially those who are economically disadvantaged.
கண்ணீர் வரவழைக்கும் பதிவு!
ஈரோட்டு அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் நோயாளிகளை மருத்துவமனை உள்ளே தூக்கிச் செல்ல ஸ்ட்ரக்சர் வசதி கூட இல்லாத விடியா திமுக அரசின் அவல நிலை!
திமுகவுக்கு ஓட்டு போட்ட மக்கள் வேதனை! pic.twitter.com/spEcAjUPFf
— கழுகுப்பார்வை 🦅🇮🇳 (@TheEagle3_0) May 28, 2024
Ambika Shanmugam, the district joint director of health services, announced that a thorough investigation will be held on Thursday, June 30, with appropriate action to follow.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the hospital staff were preoccupied with attending to the relatives of a deceased patient at the time. However, the incident has highlighted deeper systemic issues within Tamil Nadu’s healthcare system under the Dravidian model government, known for its lack of infrastructure and pervasive corruption.
In another alarming development, private nursing agents in Dindigul district have been reported to roam the district government hospital, targeting patients in need of emergency or ICU care. These agents promise superior treatment at private facilities, disparaging the care provided at government hospitals. Such activities are believed to occur with the knowledge or connivance of government hospital staff, including doctors who also work in private hospitals.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s government has touted several initiatives, including the Innuyir Kappom Namai Kakkum 48 Scheme and Doorstep Hospital Services. However, these promises starkly contrast with the reality faced by the poor in government hospitals. Incidents of botched surgeries, denial of treatment to pregnant women in severe labour pain, and nurses attending deliveries without doctors have been reported. In Arakkonam, a man was seen carrying his son in search of medical help due to the unavailability of doctors.
Further compounding these issues, patients in government hospitals are often forced to lie on floors due to bed shortages, with their relatives sitting next to them in pitiable conditions. This dire situation has allowed private hospitals to exploit the system, charging exorbitant rates for treatments. In one recent case in Tamil Nadu, a patient was charged nearly Rs 75,000 for typhoid fever, although this amount was reduced following protests from the patient’s relatives.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has promised to implement regulations to fix minimum and maximum charges for various treatments nationwide, aiming to curb such exploitation. Ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens remains a fundamental responsibility of any sensible, elected government.
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