Long queues and chaos at Sector 9 Hospital; CITU demands immediate steps

Bhilai, Apr 07:
Hindustan Steel Employees Union (CITU) has once again submitted a memorandum to Bhilai Steel Plant management demanding immediate and concrete steps to control the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the Steel City. If the BSP management would have taken appropriate action on time, the employees would not have suffered mismanagement at the hospitals. In the wake of corona infection, BSP management should have made some special preparations to control the pandemic as well as ensure better treatment facilities. The union demanded immediate action to redress the mismanagement at Sector 9 Covid Hospital as well as testing centre. If the management continues making delay, the entire BSP fraternity will have to suffer, the union leaders said.
In the memorandum, the union demanded refreshed awareness campaign which shall include dialler tones, posters, etc. The BSP management will have to work hard for maintaining health conditions in its area.
There are about 24 technicians working in various laboratories except in radiology in Sector 9 Hospital. They have been pressed on duty of corona infection investigation. There is a need of more investigation centres in Bhilai during lockdown for tracing, testing and treatment so that the corona can be controlled. 24 technicians are not sufficient; hence the management must take immediate steps to redress this shortage.
The union demanded to recruit health workers on higher honorarium. During admission of Covid victims, it is seen that they get involved in documental formalities and delay occurs in commencement of treatment. At the same time, immediate medical intervention is also delayed due to lack of medical staff. Considering the situation, qualified health workers should be recruited on high honorarium during the corona crisis. There is no shortage of internship nursing staff and retired nursing staff, pharmacists, technicians in Bhilai provided that critical care nursing staff is invited to work on a reasonable honorarium of Rs 25000 and intern at Rs 16000 per month. On the contrary, it has come to the notice that the management has invited temporary workers on an honorarium of about Rs 8500.
CITU Union has demanded from the management that the number of test kits should be increased so that the personnel do not have to wait for investigation. Apart from this, there has also been a demand to increase the number of corona test centers. At least three more centres should be opened in the vacant school buildings or health centers. In view of the seriousness of corona pandemic, the number of corona wards and beds should be increased in Sector-9 Hospital. Apart from this, OPD and wards can be started in Sector-1 Hospital for treatment of other diseases.
Patients and relatives are getting troubled due to lack of information. One of the CITU leaders recently visited Sector 9 for Covid testing. He along with his wife reached the centre at 08:00 hrs. When they were tested positive, they had to wait at the Chest OPD from 11:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs. Many ailing people have to wait here for long time without food and water. There must be a display board at the centre informing people to bring water and food with them so that they can avoid hunger and thirst.
The union opined that there is an increased risk of corona outbreak from the hospital. The patients reaching for corona examination have to fill various forms and spend lot of time for getting tested. If they are found positive, they have to visit casualty and Chest OPD for completing other formalities of admission. During this period, the family members also come in contact with the Covid Positive people. Considering the situation, the union demanded that a separate admission counter should be opened at the Chest OPD itself for admission of Covid patients. The patient is apprehensive about the treatment of other diseases during corona treatment. The union leaders stated that the co-morbid Covid patients are concerned whether they will be getting proper attention for their other ailments at the hospital. The reason behind this concern is the shortage of medical staff and doctors.
The union demanded that there must be adequate seating arrangement and PA system at the Corona OPD which has been set up in the Chest OPD of Sector 9 Hospital. There is no enough space for the patients and their families to wait. They have to wait in queue at the tent installed outside the Chest OPD. Violating the social distance norms, people are flocking there for consultation and treatment. Considering the summer season, it is necessary to make adequate seating arrangements outside the chest OPD by installing more pandals with chairs and fans / coolers. Public announcement system should also be installed. The management should ensure availability of all the necessary medicines at the hospital. If required, the medicines should be purchased locally. The union leaders stated that the doctors and medical staff are delivering their best but the situation is worsening due to negligence of management. Bhilai Steel Plant’s Sector 9 hospital is equipped with 860 beds where more than 400 Covid-19 patients are being treated. Doctors, DNB doctors, nurses, medical staff, paramedical staff, interns, sanitation workers, non-medical appointed in hospital administration are delivering their duties with dedication and commitment. But due to the negligence and delay in timely decision by the higher management, the situation of chaos in the hospital has been created. CITU demanded immediate steps to control the situation.