Health Department authorities have urged relatives of patients to co-operate with doctors and staff of government hospitals to avail the best possible medical facilities provided by the health professionals.
In a statement, secretary of health G Ragesh Chandra said several cases of unruly behaviour by relatives of patients have been reported at major government hospitals, including the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate institute (IGGGHPGI) and the Rajiv Gandhi Women and Children Hospital.
He said doctors and staff at the institutions do their best to give the best treatment available. The Government general hospital treats about 4,000 out patients per day and about 200 patients are admitted daily.
He said, when relatives are angered or in sorrow, they vent out their frustration on medical staff. On several occasions, when patients are brought dead, the group of people accompanying the patient get angry and assault the staff or damage hospital property.
Instead of appreciating the services rendered by the institutions, which are giving maximum care under the circumstances, some resort to unruly behaviour. This sort of ingratitude would bring down the morale and commitment of the heath staff, who render selfless service round the clock, Ragesh Chandra said.
He also said instruments and equipments at the IGGGHPGI like CT scan at times break down due to over load. Relatives of patients should not mistake this for negligence on the part of hospital staff and refrain from resorting to unruly behaviour, appealed Ragesh Chandra. The hospital administration takes immediate steps to repair or replace the equipment as fast as possible.
It may be recalled that the doctors and other staff of the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate institute had resorted to a flash strike demanding adequate security for the hospital staff.