‘I am not diabetic, but was put on insulin for 10 days’
A nurse came to collect my blood sample. After pricking my finger, she did not put cotton or antiseptic lotion even as blood continued to flow on the bedsheet.
ANIL KUMAR GUPTA,
president of India-Nepal Friendship Association.
LUCKNOW : Anil Kumar Gupta, 59, a resident of Dharamshala Bazar in Gorakhpur is in postCovid care at his home now after undergoing treatment in the Covid ward of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur for 19 days.
Gupta fought the Covid infection, but the nightmare in the ward of the medical college continues to haunt him.
“Now, I want to write to chief minister Yogi Adityanath to draw his attention to the state of affairs at the above mentioned hospital,” he said.
“It seemed I was in a virtual hell where patients are tormented. But with God’s blessings and my inner strength, I fought the infection to return home,” said Gupta, who is president of India-Nepal Friendship Association.
Recalling his experience in the ward, he said: “On August 18, I had symptoms of Covid infection - high fever, dry cough and breathlessness. Family members took me to the medical college. After sample test, staff told me that I have tested positive for Covid. As I was facing problem in breathing, instead of the home isolation, I preferred admission to a designated Covid facility.”
“The doctors put me on ventilator support in the ICU, later I was put on oxygen support. A nurse came to collect my blood sample. After pricking my finger, she did not even put cotton or antiseptic lotion even as blood continued to flow on the bedsheet,” he lamented.
“After three days, a doctor told me to get an injection from the open market as it was not available in the hospital. The price of the injection was ₹41,000. I called the family members and gave details of the injection, after which they managed to get it from a Lucknow-based drug supplier.
The doctor told me that my health condition was not good, I should take assistance of the ward staff to go to the toilet. In the night, when I called the staff for assistance, the doctor on duty started shouting at me. I told him that I need to go to the toilet,” said Gupta.
When he saw that the toilet was full of filth and waste, Gupta lodged a complaint with the ward staff and asked for a portable urine container.
He was told that there were only four such containers for 40 patients.
According to Gupta, the breakfast, lunch and dinner served for patients were of substandard quality. When he raised an objection, the staff told him they had no option but to serve food supplied from the kitchen.
“The nurse told me that the doctor has prescribed insulin injection to control diabetes. I told her that I have no history of diabetes. The sugar test was normal, yet she gave me insulin injection. For 10 days, I was put on insulin,” added Gupta.
On September 4, the medical staff shifted Gupta to another ward.
When the medical officer in-charge of the ward checked his file, he asked the nurse why the patient was given insulin injection. The doctors pulled up the staff.
“The doctor told me that my latest sample test report was negative and I will be discharged from the hospital after complete recovery. On September 5, my family members talked to the medical college administration and district administration officers to request my discharge from hospital. Around 11pm, I was discharged from the hospital,” he said.
Dr Ganesh Kumar, principal of BRD Medical College, said: “This medical college is committed to provide quality health services to patients. Wards are sanitised regularly. A senior consultant supervises the working of doctors and paramedical staff in the wards.”
“I too take rounds in the wards. Majority of the patients are from rural areas, yet the hospital administration tries to keep the toilets clean and provide quality food,” he added.