Freedom fighter Rajendra Prasad Singh (90) suffers from a number of old-age related health issues and because of the lack of specialised treatment in his native place has to come to Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment very often.
However, once here, he faces the hurdle of not just navigating through the ever-increasing hospital crowd but also reaching the check-up and OPD facilities which are not available on the ground floor or in a single area.
“I am not able to walk or use the staircase for visiting different departments on different floors. My condition has deteriorated to an extend that I need immediate treatment. But this remains out of bounds simply because I am unable to reach many departments on time because of the huge crowd in the hospital. Old people deserve some respect and consideration,’’ said Rajendra Prasad Singh, in his letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his letter, he has asked that a special provision be made for freedom fighters at AIIMS. “The hospital should consider giving us some priority in consulting the OPDs and other associated works. The check-up facilities/OPD should be made available at ground floor only,’’ he said.
Rajendra Prasad Singh isn’t alone in this concern as another senior citizen from Vasant Kunj, Sukul M. Bagai, said she faces the same problem. “Geriatric Medicine OPD location is not at all elderly friendly and the hospital administration should consider reviewing it. It’s a painful process to struggle through the maze to avail OPD and physiotherapy services.”
