BENGALURU: Just days after the incident of an elderly woman dragging her 75-year-old husband on the floor of a Shivamogga government hospital after she was denied a stretcher and wheelchair came to light, a similar heart-wrenching incident was witnessed at Bengaluru’s Government Victoria Hospital on Tuesday.
Ironically, the incident also occurred on a day the government came under fire in the Assembly over the pathetic condition of state-run hospitals.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rajesh S, a 28-year-old physically and mentally challenged patient, had to be pulled along by his father as no stretcher was provided to him.
Rajesh had to be taken from Victoria Hospital’s main block after some tests to the ENT section for a report. Rajesh, who cannot walk without support, had to rely on his aged father who had to drag him. Unable to manage, the father was seen slapping Rajesh repeatedly to make him stand upright so that he could pull him along.
On seeing the plight of this father-son duo, it did not take long for a crowd to gather around.
Those managing the parking lot at the hospital arranged for an auto to have them dropped at the ENT section later.
“I did not ask for a wheelchair and did not know who to approach for help. Both of us have been surviving on a single meal daily for the past three days. I can’t afford to take him by auto,” said the father. By then, it was already a two-hour wait for them to meet the doctor.
Such is the plight of any patient who comes to the hospital’s main block for tests and has to head back to the ENT section. Providing a stretcher or wheelchair to the patient too won’t help as the connecting road between the two buildings has been blocked for Metro work.
The only option is to walk through Minto Ophthalmic Hospital. “We were not aware of this. If such cases are brought to my notice, we can arrange for an ambulance,” said Dr H S Satish, medical superintendent, Victoria Hospital.