Coimbatore: Irate patients and relatives in the maternity ward of the Government Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in Coimbatore argued with security personnel owing to their increasing demand for bribes.
Coimbatore: Irate patients and relatives in the maternity ward of the Government Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in Coimbatore argued with security personnel owing to their increasing demand for bribes.
About 5000-7000 outpatients and over 2000 inpatients receive treatment at CMCH. People from various districts such as Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Nilgiris as well as people from neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka throng GH for medical treatment.
Over 50 pregnant women receive treatment in the maternity ward of GH, with an estimated 30 deliveries occuring daily. Patients and relatives in the ward have alleged that there is a huge bribery racket on at the ward which specializes in maternity care. Pregnant women accuse that Rs.500 is demanded of them during every birth. And also, every time a patient is admitted at the hospital, they are charged Rs. 50, Rs. 100 or Rs. 200, with strethcher attendants demanding money every time a patient is moved within the hospital.
In one of the recent cases in the maternity ward, patients and their kin could be seen arguing with the security personnel owing to bribes beig demanded. A pregnant woman who is undergoing treatment in a maternity ward at Coimbatore GH said,
"They treat us very well in the hospital. But there is a huge bribery scandal going on at the hospital. From the attendants handling stretchers to sanitary workers, as well as security personnel, each one demands Rs.100 or Rs. 200 for duties done for patients. They have charged me Rs. 500 twice for cleaning up my baby. Since we are poor, we depend on GH. But we hate paying the bribes demanded here. Some of the security guards working in the hospital treat patients unfairly. And, if concerns about such problems in the hospital are raised, the patients are made to suffer by these staff," she opined.
There are also allegations that even though complaints regarding the bribes have been brought to the notice of the Assistant Resident physician Ponmudi Selvan, no action has been taken yet. Parameswari, a pregnant woman from Erode and her mother were reportedly ill-treated by the security personnel at GH. "Respect here is given only for those who pay.
Similarly, those who are going to visit a patient without shelling out the money to these attendantts or guards are not respected. We have also been attacked. Security guards should never treat anyone like that. The authorities should therefore take appropriate action," she urged.
Though CMCH has managed to keep its reputation intact as a hospital that serves its patients well, the behaviour of the attendants and security personnel leave much to be desired and needs to addressed immediately by the hospital administration.
About 5000-7000 outpatients and over 2000 inpatients receive treatment at CMCH. People from various districts such as Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Nilgiris as well as people from neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka throng GH for medical treatment.
Over 50 pregnant women receive treatment in the maternity ward of GH, with an estimated 30 deliveries occuring daily. Patients and relatives in the ward have alleged that there is a huge bribery racket on at the ward which specializes in maternity care. Pregnant women accuse that Rs.500 is demanded of them during every birth. And also, every time a patient is admitted at the hospital, they are charged Rs. 50, Rs. 100 or Rs. 200, with strethcher attendants demanding money every time a patient is moved within the hospital.
In one of the recent cases in the maternity ward, patients and their kin could be seen arguing with the security personnel owing to bribes beig demanded. A pregnant woman who is undergoing treatment in a maternity ward at Coimbatore GH said,
"They treat us very well in the hospital. But there is a huge bribery scandal going on at the hospital. From the attendants handling stretchers to sanitary workers, as well as security personnel, each one demands Rs.100 or Rs. 200 for duties done for patients. They have charged me Rs. 500 twice for cleaning up my baby. Since we are poor, we depend on GH. But we hate paying the bribes demanded here. Some of the security guards working in the hospital treat patients unfairly. And, if concerns about such problems in the hospital are raised, the patients are made to suffer by these staff," she opined.
There are also allegations that even though complaints regarding the bribes have been brought to the notice of the Assistant Resident physician Ponmudi Selvan, no action has been taken yet. Parameswari, a pregnant woman from Erode and her mother were reportedly ill-treated by the security personnel at GH. "Respect here is given only for those who pay.
Similarly, those who are going to visit a patient without shelling out the money to these attendantts or guards are not respected. We have also been attacked. Security guards should never treat anyone like that. The authorities should therefore take appropriate action," she urged.
Though CMCH has managed to keep its reputation intact as a hospital that serves its patients well, the behaviour of the attendants and security personnel leave much to be desired and needs to addressed immediately by the hospital administration.