Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 21

Doctors at Government Rajindra Hospital are treating coronavirus patients sans masks. Sufficient masks are not available with the hospital authorities. Moreover, security personnel are also short of masks. They can be seen using handkerchiefs at the hospital emergency to protect themselves from the disease.

Residents and senior medicos rued that the hospital authorities were not providing enough masks to foot soldiers at the time of corona pandemic.

A senior paediatrician at the hospital, said, “Once again, the hospital authorities have failed to take care of their doctors. Essential items like masks should be in abundance at any hospital. It is unfortunate that such basic stuff is not available at an institute like Rajindra Hospital.”

One of the junior residents, who are usually are at the forefront of the hospital, said, “We are facing acute shortage of safety gear at the hospital.”

One of the residents, on condition of anonymity, said, “Apart from emergency, rest of the wards also don’t have masks. When we asked officials they said there is a shortage of masks and sanitisers.”

Rajindra Hospital has an isolation ward for Covid-19 patients. Also, there are some quarantines facilities at the hospital. In such a situation, there is a huge risk of infection to doctors.

Meanwhile, sources at the Health Department said, “We have already placed orders for masks and hand sanitisers following their shortage.”

Nursing students protest outside MS office

Students of the Government Nursing College, Patiala, ‘gheraoed’ the office of the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Government Rajindra Hospital today. Students were protesting shortage of masks, gloves and demanding holidays. Students said the administration of the hospital and the college was neither providing them gloves and masks to perform duties at the emergency nor allowing them holidays. Some college girls gathered outside the MS office and sought a meeting with him.