In a sad turn of events, the Omandurar Government Multipurpose Hospital faced disruptions yesterday 14 June 2023, as the Chief Minister and various other Ministers were paying a visit to Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji who had been admitted after a “chest pain” while being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the wee hours of Wednesday. The presence of paramilitary and police personnel led to tightened security measures at the hospital premises, affecting patients and visitors.
As a result of the visit, operations that were scheduled at the hospital for 14 June 2023 had to be postponed. Over 50 surgeries, including those in critical departments like heart, oncology, neurology, and vascular surgery, were rescheduled without a specified date for the procedures to take place.
விசாரனை கைதி #அழுகாச்சி_பாலாஜி யை காப்பாற்ற முதல்வரும் 35 அமைச்சர்களும் நடத்திய நாடகத்திற்காக 50 பேரின் உயிரை பணயம் வைத்திருக்கிறார் மருத்துவ அமைச்சர் @Subramanian_ma !
தண்ணி லாரி ரிப்பேர் செய்வதை போல இந்த வாரம் அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்ய முடியாது, அடுத்த வாரம் வர… pic.twitter.com/Z8ImuhMaep
— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) June 15, 2023
The Omandurar Government Multipurpose Hospital, which typically treats around 1,500 outpatients and accommodates 400 inpatients daily, faced a temporary halt in its regular operations. Patients who arrived at the hospital’s outpatient department were evaluated by junior doctors who advised them to continue their usual medication and return for a follow-up check-up next week.
The restrictions on visitor access meant that patients had to be provided meals within the hospital premises. Only emergency life-saving surgeries were conducted during this period, while non-urgent procedures had to be put on hold.
Expressing their frustration, one affected patient shared their experience, stating, “I came for a routine heart checkup. After waiting for a long time, we were finally allowed to enter. The hospital conducted tests like ECG, but the doctors only advised us to continue our regular medication and return next week for further evaluation. It was disappointing not to receive proper treatment despite the long wait.”
The hospital administration is yet to announce a revised schedule for the postponed surgeries, leaving patients uncertain about their future appointments.
Efforts are underway to normalize operations at the Omandurar Government Multipurpose Hospital as soon as possible, ensuring that patients receive the necessary care and treatments they require.
With inputs from Dinamalar.
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