ESI hospital plagued by graft

THRISSUR: The  ESI hospital  here is plagued by irregularities, bribery and doctors’ inertia, according to a staff member.  

This brings to the fore the plight of the patients when  the district is hit by the  fever epidemic. Patients reach the hospital by 4 in the morning. 

“When doctors themselves regulate the number of tokens given a day, many patients would be forced to leave the hospital without meeting the doctors. It is the directive of the hospital that specialists should examine  the patients till 2 p.m. but they often leave by 1p.m,” the staffer said.

Allegations were  levelled against a doctor that the  patients who meet him personally at his house are given special care at the hospital.  In a recent case, after the doctor failed to take the case of a patient seriously, the patient had to go to a private hospital.

The  hospital lacks essential  medicines and proper infrastructure. The hospital development committee  is not active.  There are apprehensions that the central government is no more interested in the ESI system which will hit  the poor patients.

There are around five vacancies of doctors at the hospital. When many dispensaries associated with the hospital have qualified doctors, they  can fill the vacant posts.

The quarters building of the hospital is  in a state of ruin and used by  anti- socials. A recent case of prostitution was reported inside the building and hospital authorities had filed a case at Ayyanthole police station. After the incident, the small pathway round the hospital leading to the quarters has been closed.

The growth of  bushes and plants on the hospital premise is posing a threat to  the staff and patients as a couple of snakes were caught from the hospital.