D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, Oct 29: Kamala Kerketta (name changed) suffers from a serious health problem and was referred to GB Pant Hospital for specialised treatment from CHC Diglipur on Monday. She booked the Pawan Hans Helicopter to get airlifted to Port Blair and was rushed to the Helipad by the CHC Ambulance at 8. 30 am on Tuesday. But to utter shock, the patient and her attendant were left baking in the Ambulance waiting for the chopper for atleast 2 ½ hours. Like many, she too fell victim to the lack of coordination between the Health officials and authorities of the Pawan Hans Helicopter services.
According to information, many patients from Diglipur are airlifted to Port Blair by the chopper services every week. But for lack of coordination between the two agencies, patients are forced to suffer for hours at the Helipad under the scorching sun or heavy rainfall. Moreover, lack of air-conditioned Ambulances and Sheds at the Helipad have added to the woes of the patients from the region.
“I was left baking inside the non-AC Ambulance for about 3 hours yesterday. While a healthy person can withstand the high temperature in these islands, imagine the plight of a patient forced to wait under the scorching sun for hours together. The chopper was scheduled to arrive at 8.50 am, but for emergency medical evacuation of a patient from Hut Bay, the chopper was diverted and reached Diglipur at 11 am. Had we been informed about the delay, we would have left for the Helipad as per the revised schedule and the trouble could have been avoided. However, no one informed about the rescheduling of the chopper and passengers were left to suffer for hours,” bewailed Kamala Kerketta.
Sources claim that the residents of Diglipur are in a state of extreme unrest over the state of affairs and are reportedly planning to intensify their demands for proper coordination among the agencies, introduction of Air Conditioned Ambulances and construction of Sheds at the Helipad. The top brass of the Health Department should immediately intervene in the situation and embark on necessary steps for the benefit of the remote residents.
I Agree that it is a clear case of negligence and poor coordination. I am sure during the said two and half hours of wait, driver of the ambulance, patient/(‘s) attendants and all the intending passengers might have inquired about the delay and ETA of the chopper, and I guess those manning the facility might have given them NO PROPER REPLY. Else the ambulance could have been driven back to the hospital and returned at the REVISED ETA. This is the plight of ordinary resident. Had there been a VIP in the passenger list… the story would have been different.