Wheelchair unavailable, woman forced to carry injured husband on her back at Raiganj Hospital
Raiganj: In a heart-wrenching video and photos from Raiganj Government Medical College & Hospital, a woman in her mid-40s was seen carrying her ailing husband on her back on Monday, as there was no wheelchair available at the outpatient department. The distressing images and videos quickly went viral on social media.
The woman, a homemaker from Raipur village in the Raiganj block, had arrived at the hospital with her 51-year-old husband who had suffered a leg injury while supervising construction work at his house. When they reached the hospital in an e-rickshaw, they were confronted with a lack of basic facilities, forcing the woman to carry her husband to the OPD.
With no wheelchair available at the facility, the woman was left with no choice but to carry her husband on her back. In the video, the woman is seen carrying her husband to the OPD.
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Speaking to the Telegraph India, the woman said, “I was perplexed.” She added, “On one hand, no wheelchair was available to carry my husband who couldn’t walk because of his injury. On the other hand, the private security personnel posted at the entrance to the hospital insisted the e-rickshaw driver leave the place quickly.”
The woman said that finding no other alternative, she asked her husband if she could carry him on her back to the outpatient department. Somehow, she carried him to the OPD.
The woman's ordeal continued even after reaching the OPD. After the doctors examined the patient and advised a CT scan, the couple once again faced the lack of basic mobility aids. She had to carry her husband on her back to another building for the CT scan.
The husband though grateful to his wife, expressed his disappointment with the hospital’s lack of facilities. According to Telegraph India, he said, “It is unfortunate that there was no wheelchair. My wife had to bear the pain of carrying me since I could not walk after my injury.”
As the news spread, the hospital authorities eventually arranged a wheelchair for Paritosh when the couple was leaving after the CT scan and some other tests.
This incident has prompted Krishna Kalyani, the Raiganj MLA, to raise concerns about the state of infrastructure at RGMCH, which is the largest state-run referral hospital in North Dinajpur district. Kalyani, who also chairs the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) at the hospital, expressed his frustration over the lack of proper procedures to ensure basic healthcare facilities for patients.
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The MLA said that although she was appointed as the RKS chairman a month ago, the MSVP did not initiate official procedures for her to assume charge. He cannot evade responsibility. She added that it was inhuman for a woman to have to carry her husband on her back for treatment.
Priyanka Roy, the MSVP, stated that the hospital had an adequate supply of wheelchairs and stretchers. He explained that the patient would have received a wheelchair if they had waited a little longer, adding that one had been arranged for him as soon as the situation was brought to their attention.
