‘Feel helpless’: Cancer patients face delays, shortage at Chandigarh’s Sector 48 hospital

She fears “speaking up against the hospital authority may lead to further delayed/ denied care”.

Amidst limited diagnostic services at the hospital, patients are also forced to turn to private laboratories.

“After consultation, they asked me to get my tests done, but at a private lab outside. Why should I have to pay more when I am already at a government hospital?” another patient, frustrated with the lack of in-house pathology and radiology, asked.

With the shortage of beds, patients are even being treated on trolleys. “Mere pita ko corridor mein trolley par leta diya. Staff ke pas unhe dekhne ka samay nahi tha (My father was put on a stretcher in a corridor. The staff didn’t have time to examine him),” a young man, accompanying his father for post-surgery care, said.

Such experiences have become increasingly common, especially with the hospital functioning under staffing constraints, they say.

While the Chandigarh administration denies any staff shortage, patients continue to report long waiting hours and overcrowded holding areas.

“There is always a rush, and not enough doctors available. It takes hours to get a small thing done. They say medical machines/ equipments are not available, and treatments get postponed. We feel helpless, but do not have the money to go elsewhere,” a woman from Maloya said.

Adding to the financial stress, patients are often referred back to the GMCH-32 or the PGIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) for further treatment. “Woh kehte hain yahan machine nahi hai, PGI chale jao,” another caregiver said.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said the healthcare facility is in a “phased development stage”, and equipment installation as well as staff deployment are underway as part of the ongoing expansion plans.

“We shifted to increase the utility; more services would be provided here,” said Dr G P Thami, medical superintendent at GMCH-32, dismissing concerns about the workforce shortage. “I disagree with the claims of staff shortage here.” On being asked about a timeline for full operations, Thami claimed: “No time frames. We work at the earliest.”

Requesting anonymity, a hospital staffer said: “We were shifted here for better services, we hope we will provide them.”

(The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)