No entry for media in Ludhiana Civil Hospital

Ludhiana: The civil hospital authorities in Ludhiana have issued an order that banned reporters from taking photographs or recording videos inside the hospital wards amidst a deteriorating healthcare infrastructure and shortage of doctors. 

The order was issued on 3rd September 2022 to the security supervisor and all security guards directing them to implement the order strictly. 

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A hoarding was placed outside the Mother and Child Hospital, which stated that "videography and photos on the hospital premises are strictly prohibited." There are also offices of SMO and other health department officials within the hospital. 

According to Senior medical officer (SMO) Deepika Goyal, the orders were not passed to prevent free and fair reporting but were taken after receiving complaints that some web channel operators claiming to be reporters barged into the labour room and began recording videos without permission. In addition, they received complaints that some people entered the operation theatre (OT) and started taking photographs, increasing the risk of spreading infections, reports the Hindustan Times. Deepika said, "Everyone has a right to privacy, and we have issued the order to ensure confidentiality of patients."

Meanwhile, the opposition parties in the state, including the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of banning media from showing the reality of the deteriorating healthcare infrastructure of the state. 

Congress leader Ishwarjot Singh Cheema said that AAP is trying to get votes in the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh by claiming to have transformed the healthcare infrastructure in Punjab. However, he said that the reality is different on the ground level and the media which showed the truth was banned. 

SAD leader Mahaeshinder Singh Grewal said that it is no coincidence that similar orders were issued in Gurdaspur and added that more such orders would be passed in the coming days to prevent the entry of the media into hospitals and other government establishments. Grewal said, "All this is being done to curb the negative side of healthcare infrastructure in the state." District president of the BJP Pushpinder Singhal questioned the inaction of the SMO in reporting the matter to the police when someone entered the labour room and began recording the video. He added that it is a "well-planned" tactic to stop the press from showing the crumbling health infrastructure. 

However, according to District media in charge of AAP Dupinder Singh, the government issued no such orders to ban press entry in hospitals. He added, "I am not aware of any such orders. Our party believes in working transparently. I will look into the matter." 

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