Around 150 residents of MGR Nagar protested before the K.K. Nagar Peripheral Hospital on Friday for two hours demanding better services there.
The residents had complained on Thursday to the police station in the locality after one of them had allegedly been denied medicines for diabetes. “I have been coming to the hospital for five years now. Yesterday I came around 10.10 a.m. and was asked to wait. Finally the doctor came and when my turn came he asked me why I was late. He then sent me to check if medicines were available in the pharmacy. The pharmacist told me to get a prescription from the doctor. As I was again told to wait I said I would return another day for the medicines. He got angry and said I was being arrogant.”
After the altercation a group of residents tried to lodge a police complaint but the police urged them to hold a talk with the head of the institution, Mr. Raja said. On Friday, residents sat in front of the hospital for two hours demanding better facilities. G. Selva, member of Virugambakkam area committee of CPI (M), who led the demonstration, said the hospital had not posted physicians and diabetologists. “Outpatient service for diabetes and BP are conducted every Tuesday and Thursday and fortnightly supply of medicines is given. There is also equipment for eye and dental tests but we are referred to other hospitals. We want technicians appointed,” he said.
Superintendent of Government Royapettah Hospital N. Gunasekaran, under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls, said the clinics operate only up to 10.30 a.m. “We have amicably settled the issue,” he added. Since the peripheral hospital is only for emergencies the patients will only be referred to either GRH or to KMC for further treatment, he said.
