Row over division of cases between 2 hospitals

Ghaziabad: A tussle between MMG District Hospital and District Combined Hospital (DCH) over division of medical cases from the city’s police stations has led to some inconvenience for patients.
According to an order issued by the chief medical officer in February, the 166-bed MMG Hospital is required to deal with cases from seven police stations while DCH has been given the charge of four stations. Besides, the two hospitals have been asked to deal with referral cases from four-five rural areas each.
Loni police took an unconscious person lying on the roadside to the local community health centre, which referred him to MMG Hospital. But, instead of admitting the patient to the emergency ward, the facility referred him to Combined Hospital. While police finally got him admitted at DCH, the patient could not get treatment for several hours.
When contacted, the MMG administration cited a huge rush.
“The daily footfall at the hospital is more than 3,000. Moreover, cases of Loni police station should be sent to Combined Hospital only. The patient was unconscious and needed a CT scan. DCH has this facility,” said Dr Anurag Bhargava, chief medical superintendent, MMG Hospital.
Staff at District Combined Hospital countered by saying that the patient’s well-being should have been given precedence. Besides, said Dr Sanjay Teotia, chief medical superintendent, patients from trans-Hindon areas should be taken to MMG Hospital as it is 6km closer than Combined Hospital.
“Unnecessary travelling is not justified in emergency cases. The MMG Hospital has three physicians and surgeons each while we do not have a single surgeon. One surgeon from MMG has been attached to our hospital and comes thrice a week only. MMG Hospital, which has better facilities and more doctors, should not refer any patient without providing treatment in any case,” said Dr Teotia.
Medico-legal and accident cases reported in Vijay Nagar, Kotwali, Sahibabad, Khoda, Nandgram, women police station and Link Road are required to be taken to MMG Hospital. Moreover, referral cases from Loni, Tronica City, Loni Border and Tila Mod police station areas are also supposed to be treated at the hospital.
DCH, on the other hand, is responsible for cases from Sihani Gate, Kavi Nagar, Indirapuram and Madhuban-Bapudham. It is also required to treat referred patients from Muradnagar, Masuri, Niwari, Bhojpur and Modinagar police station areas.