A situation has come to light in Are, Bihar, that raises serious questions about the claims regarding the quality of medical care in public hospitals. In this instance, an 80-year-old patient was transported home from the hospital not by ambulance, but by a handcart.
According to reports, relatives requested an ambulance, but due to the lack of such availability, they had to use a handcart. The 80-year-old Vishnu Shankar Sah, a resident of Charkhamba Street in the area of the city police station, fell in the bathroom of his rented apartment. As a result of this incident, he sustained a head injury and a broken leg.
After the incident, relatives took the elderly man to Ara Sadar Hospital. His elderly wife, Mira Devi, and son-in-law, Kanhaiya Prasad, were with him. Although he received treatment at the hospital, the family claims that the hospital administration refused to provide an ambulance for his return home.
Ultimately, the helpless relatives had to arrange a handcart, paying 500 rupees for it, and were forced to take Vishnu Shankar Sah home in it. This raises natural questions as to why an elderly person who needs the best care and medical attention has to use a handcart to travel from the hospital home.
According to relatives, Vishnu Shankar Sah participated in public events. He is also associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sangh, and is a member of the central homeless. However, regardless of his social or political affiliation, the question arises: why could a basic medical service not be provided to the elderly patient?
While grand statements about improving the healthcare system and enhancing patient conditions are actively promoted in Bihar, the situation at Ara Sadar Hospital casts doubt on the reality on the ground. The question arises: does Ara Sadar Hospital have a proper system for transporting patients home after treatment? If such a system exists, why was it not provided to this elderly patient?
At present, the hospital management's position on this matter remains unclear. Transporting a patient home after treatment is also an important part of the healthcare system's responsibility. When will the face of public hospitals in Bihar change?
Attempts were made to contact the civil surgeon and the director of Ara Sadar Hospital to obtain information on this case, but neither responded to calls, and a meeting to present their viewpoint did not take place.
