PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, May 22: All 11 lifts in the old building of Jharkhand’s only state-run super speciality hospital, RIMS, have been out of action for a long time, causing patients to suffer due to the authorities’ lethargy in rolling out a new tender for the maintenance of lifts.
The trolley driver must use ramps to transport critical patients to the ward, which can be dangerous at times and even result in patient death.
According to accounts, Aarohi Elevator was previously responsible for the lift’s upkeep. Due to a lack of a new tender process, the lift repair work has not been completed after the company’s tender has expired.
Sources said, “Anyone can understand that the Gynecology department sits on the fourth floor of the old building and how difficult it is to convey a pregnant woman through the ramp without the elevator.”
However, RIMS Public Relations Officer, Dr Dipendra Kumar Sinha and Deputy Medical Superintendent Sailesh Tripathi could not be contacted for any comment on the issue.
Patients and visitors aren’t the only ones who suffer when the lifts aren’t working; personnel who provide food to the patients are also affected.
“There is a provision to serve five meals a day to the patients arriving for treatment in RIMS. Due to the lift breakdown, in this case, the kitchen workers will have to push the trolley to the ward via the ramp. The food cart is around 2 quintals in weight. As a result, some staff have complained of chest trouble while moving the trolley,” a kitchen staff member remarked.
In the old RIMS building, a total of 11 lifts were installed. Lift number 9 has been out of service for the past year and a half. Similarly, the 8 number lift stopped working on April 24, the 11 number lift on May 2, and other lifts have been out of service for the past 20 days.
