Rawalpindi: In this region of the country since Sunday morning, thousands of patients faced severe hardship due to the closure of all roads leading to almost all public and private sector trustee care hospitals in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The situation is alarming because not only all roads leading to Rawalpindi city or the federal capital are blocked, but almost all connecting roads leading to Murree Road (Benazir Bhutto Road) are also closed for three days. Due to the blockades, thousands of patients and their families are unable to reach both public and private sector hospitals for treatment.
Data collected by ‘The News’ on Tuesday revealed that three teaching hospitals in the city, including Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, have reported normal cases in their outpatient departments over the past few days. Received less than 25% of patient arrivals. two days
It is important that the OPDs of the three allied hospitals receive an average of 8,000 to 10,000 patients per day, while not more than 5,000 patients arrived in the OPDs of the hospitals in the last two days. Statistics show that around 15,000 patients, including a good number of patients who needed follow-ups, could not reach the hospitals for treatment.
Almost the same is the case with patients in need of emergency services in emergency departments of hospitals. On an average, more than 9,000 patients visit the emergency departments of the three allied hospitals, including children and pregnant women. This was said by Principal Rawalpindi Medical College and In-charge Allied Hospital Professor Dr. Jahangir Sarwar Khan while talking to “The News” on Tuesday. It is noteworthy here that many patients requiring surgery could not reach the hospitals and what a dilemma it is that many critical patients were transported by motorbikes for the arrangements in the hospitals. Syed Khawar Hussain Shah, age 48, who needed dialysis, arrived at HFH on a bike. Khawar’s attendant said that he was taken to HFH and after dialysis, reached home on a bike, adding whether anyone cares about the common man in the current situation.
Prof Jahangir said that due to road closure, a patient who was scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday may be able to reach HFH on Tuesday after finding a way. Many health experts believe that the relevant government authorities should make appropriate strategies to accommodate patients, even when roads are closed. He said that it is a pity that no one takes notice of this serious situation and thousands of patients have to suffer due to political process.