Patient dragged by limbs due to wheelchair shortage at govt hospital

Nizamabad: A patient at the Government General Hospital in Nizamabad was dragged by his limbs by his attenders due to a lack of requisite infrastructure, on March 31, with the video going viral on social media platforms on Saturday.

Sources familiar with the incident said that the patient visited the outpatient department and consulted doctors in the causality wing, following which he was advised to consult with specialists about the health issue.

The patient was left on the bench overnight since the consultation time for the day had elapsed. The next day, his attenders could be seen dragging him by his limbs up to the lift, as specialist doctors are located on the second floor. They cited a lack of availability of stretchers or wheelchairs.

Hospital superintendent Prathima Raj, however, refuted claims about the lack of availability of wheelchairs and said the video was a concerted effort to portray the hospital and subsequently, the government, in a poor light.

Raj said that the patient was brought to causality on a stretcher and in a hurry to reach the lift, his family members dragged him by his limbs before the hospital staff could get a wheelchair. “After reaching the second floor, the hospital staff took the patient on a wheelchair and later brought him to the ward. There is neither negligence of staff nor shortage of stretchers,” she said.

“The Government General Hospital in Nizamabad is recognised as one of the best hospitals in Telangana for its services, as stated during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said, adding that video clips of the patient being transported in a wheelchair were also released.

However, political leaders were quick to jump in and attack the government.

PCC chief A. Revanth Reddy termed the incident “appalling” and took the chance to attack the ‘Telangana model’. “Don’t you think the way a patient is being dragged in the Nizamabad area hospital reflects the neglect of the government ? Appalling ! Is this the Telangana model KCR was talking about ? Is this the ideal model for the entire country ? (sic)” he posted on Twitter.

Minister for medical health and family welfare T. Harish Rao ordered the director of medical education to inquire into the incident and submit a report immediately.