The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) is overflowing with patients, with scores of people taking ill due to spread of vector-borne diseases across Prakasam district.
The rush at the hospital is such that some patients are not provided with cots. Blood samples of around 60 patients have been sent for examination, RIMS Director G.B. Rajkumar said, adding that there had been no confirmed case of dengue at the hospital so far.
In hospitals elsewhere in the district, as many as 64 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported, District Medical and Health Officer J. Yasmin said. More than 300 suspected dengue cases have been reported in hospitals in Ongole, Chirala, Giddalur, Markapur and Cumbum, he added.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao, who made a surprise visit to RIMS, expressed unhappiness over the sanitary conditions as also the kitchen after some patients complained that poor quality food was being served to them.
“I have made four visits to RIMS in the recent past. Yet, the situation has not improved,” Mr. Rao said.
He also directed the RIMS Director to give top priority to sanitation.
“Though the government is spending crores of rupees on improving infrastructure at government hospitals, services there do not meet the expectations of people,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, a patients waiting in queue at the orthopedic out-patient wing of the hospital complained to the Minister that the duty doctor was making them wait for hours.
The functioning of the Radiology department is also far from satisfactory, with the staff members being sent to other hospitals on deputation, some patients complained.
As a matter of precaution, health officials have stepped up anti-larval operations across the district to check breeding of mosquitoes.
