PATIENT STICHED UP BY MOBILE PHONE LIGHT

PATIENT STICHED UP BY MOBILE PHONE LIGHT

15-SEP-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------A shocking case highlighting the dismal state of the power supply system at the Koilwar Community Health Centre (CHC) in Bihar's Bhojpur district has raised serious questions about the hospital's emergency services. Following a power outage, the generator failed to start, forcing medical staff to treat an injured patient—who had arrived at the emergency ward—using the light from a mobile phone torch.

It has also come to light that two other admitted patients were administered RL (Ringer's Lactate) fluids in the dark. Patients and their families faced significant distress for an extended period due to the lack of an alternative power arrangement during the outage. The patient's relatives appeared frightened and anxious as the stitches were being applied under the dim light of a mobile torch.

According to Monu, a resident of Koilwar, his friend had sustained a knife cut near his thumb. He arrived at the Koilwar CHC for treatment around 5 PM on Monday in an injured state. At that time, the hospital was experiencing a power outage, and the generator had not been switched on.

"The hospital guard turned on his mobile phone torch. A health worker stitched the wound in that light. Due to the lack of adequate lighting in the emergency ward, we—along with other patients and their families—were frustrated with the hospital's management during the treatment. The generator did not start even after the power went out." — Monu, friend of the injured patient.

According to those present at the hospital, two other admitted patients were also receiving RL fluids in the dark during the outage. Ajay Singh, a relative of a female patient, stated that the power had been out since around 5 PM. Patients were forced to undergo treatment in the dark because the generator was not started.

He noted that the patients and their families endured considerable hardship for a long time. There was widespread resentment among the public over the lack of an immediate backup power arrangement in a hospital providing emergency services.

When media personnel arrived to inquire about the power situation at the hospital, the generator remained off for approximately 35 minutes. Subsequently, fuel was added to the generator, and it was started.

A hospital guard stated, "The generator had run out of fuel, which is why it could not be started." However, hospital staff appeared reluctant to speak openly about the matter. Questions are now being raised regarding the hospital management's operational practices concerning the generator's maintenance and timely activation during power outages.

Rakesh Sharma, a resident of Koilwar, said he had visited the CHC to get a friend's relative treated. The power had already been out for about half an hour at that time. During this period, he witnessed a young girl receiving stitches by the light of a mobile phone torch.

"Situations like this have occurred at the CHC before. The hospital manager and the person in charge were called repeatedly, but there was no response to the complaints. After the power cut, it was revealed that the generator was out of fuel. Fuel was later brought and added to the generator, allowing the hospital's lights to come back on." — Rakesh Sharma, local resident accompanying a patient.

Locals claim that this is not the first instance of medical treatment being administered by mobile phone light during a power outage at CHC Koilwar. Patients' relatives allege that the generator is often not started immediately after a power failure, thereby disrupting critical services such as emergency care.

A patient's relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged collusion between the hospital management and the generator operator. They claimed that the generator is not started on time during outages, even though its operation is recorded in the logbook.

Procedures like stitching a wound on an injured patient in the emergency ward require adequate lighting. Consequently, the failure to start the generator promptly during a power outage—resulting in treatment being performed by mobile torchlight—raises serious questions about the hospital's power supply and emergency management systems. Patients and their families have demanded that the hospital management ensure immediate generator activation during power outages so that emergency services remain uninterrupted under any circumstances.

Attempts were made to contact the Civil Surgeon of Bhojpur via mobile phone to get his response regarding the matter, but he did not answer the call. Consequently, the Health Department's official stance on the issues surrounding power outages and generator operation could not be obtained; however, the distressed patients, inconvenienced by this mismanagement, have certainly exposed the reality of the hospital's arrangements.