The myth about government hospitals

According to Sudhanshu Mittal it was appropriate for Rahul Mahajan to be taken to a government hospital during an emergency. Rahul Mahajan was taken to Apollo hospital and not to AIIMS or Safdarjang even though these hospitals were much closer to the scene of overdosing. But medical experts say drug overdosed patients should be rushed to the nearest hospital because the sooner they get treated, the better are the chances of their survival.

Dr J.N. Pande, internal medicine expert and former head of medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said that government hospitals have the capacity to manage emergency situations. The AIIMS casualty is equipped to handle 500 patients and treated 1.5 million critically ill people last year. The casualty service has 20 doctors working round the clock and 4 superspecialists in medicine, surgery, orthopaedics and paediatrics. Medical superintendent Dr D.K. Sarma, AIIMS said that the patient needs to get his medical treatment in the golden hour period which is best for his survival. He said that istead of calling some unrecognised nursing homes which may not be equipped to handle the emergency it is better to bundle the patient in a car or cab and rush him or her to the closest specialty or multi-specialty hospital.

Dr B.K. Rao, chairman of Ganga Ram Hospital and head of Critical Care and Emergency also said that a patient should be rushed directly to a big hospital. Dr Asif Ali, director, medical services, Fortis Hospital Noida, said that big hospitals would have all the essential life-support systems and even doctors and nurses trained in critical care. Dr R.R. Kasliwal, director, cardiology and outreach programmes, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre said that at his hospital the ambulances are staffed with trained doctors and nurse who start the treatment on the way to the hospital. Dr Pande said that one should plan well in advance and identify a well-equipped hospital that is close to the home.