Inadequate infrastructure poses major dangers to patient safety and well-being, and the condition of government healthcare facilities in Bihar, especially at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), has deteriorated to concerning proportions. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India conducted an audit in 2022 that found numerous serious flaws in DMCH, a major government hospital in north Bihar, as well as in other medical facilities around the state.
The lack of boundary walls surrounding DMCH is one of the most concerning problems mentioned in the CAG report. This leaves infants and other patients at risk from stray animals that are allowed to roam freely on the hospital grounds. According to the research, this lack of security poses a serious risk, particularly to patients who are already at risk, such as infants, who are left “exposed” to the possibility of injury from these animals.
The CAG audit found several other shortcomings at DMCH and other well-known medical facilities in Bihar, such as Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah, in addition to the security threats posed by stray animals. Open electric switchboards with exposed wires have been reported on multiple occasions, presenting serious safety risks to patients, employees, and guests. Inadequate access to drinking water was another significant issue, not only at DMCH but also at other hospitals around the state. When there were restrooms, they were discovered to be in appalling condition.
In smaller hospitals, the situation was significantly worse. A startling 78% of Health Sub-Centers (HSCs) lacked bathrooms, and 74% of HSCs and 38% of Additional Primary Health Centers (APHCs) lacked access to drinking water, according to the CAG assessment. A sizable portion of institutions lacked electricity as well; 41% of HSCs and 31% of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and APHCs reported power outages.
Concerns regarding the scarcity of necessary medical equipment and supplies were also brought up by the audit. It was discovered that just a small portion of the equipment required for health and wellness centers (HWCs) was available, including essential goods such as surgical scissors, weighing scales, basins, and torches. Furthermore, just 29% of PHCs and APHCs had Laboure rooms, suggesting that many centers lacked these essential amenities. Another major problem was the lack of hospital beds, with PHCs/APHCs reporting a 61% shortfall in available beds and sub-divisional hospitals reporting a 93% bed shortage.
These results demonstrate the terrible condition of Bihar’s healthcare system, which has serious deficiencies in basic amenities, safety, hygienic conditions, and medical supplies. The CAG’s report emphasizes how urgently reforms and funding are needed to raise the standard and safety of the state’s healthcare system.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
