Patients, attendants fume over tip culture in Pulwama hospital

‘We take action after complaints’

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 15-Dec-2015

The gynecology patients and their attendants in Pulwama are up against the District Hospital authorities for failing to curb menace of “tip culture” which has been going on for many years thus far.The attendants of these gynecology patients said that as soon as the women deliver babies in the operation theatre, paramedics asks them for money as “tip”.Few weeks ago, a female patient from Gangoo in Pulwama was admitted in the hospital for delivery of her baby. “We were asked by some paramedic employees, even some security persons, to give us money as tip. Initially, we did not relent, but soon we feared that the paramedics would not treat the patient and the baby in the ward. And we gave in to them. We paid Rs 1200 to them,” said a relative of the patient.Angered by the demands for money by the employees, the relatives of the woman complained to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Mohammad Saleem.Admitting the ‘tip incident’ to have taken place, the medical superintended ordered an inquiry, which found five employees of the hospital to have demanded the money.

“Exactly…Such tip culture exists in the hospital. But when attendants complain, we take action. A nurse, another employee of the gynecology section, a security guard and two other temporary employees were found involved in the incident,” Dr Saleem told KNS.He said as punishment all these accused were fined Rs 2000 after they were identified by the attendants and the patient.Another attendant of Pulwama said that last year he admitted his wife in the hospital.“After delivery of a baby, the employees demanded money from me as tip. I rejected their demands. But they pressured me till I paid them Rs 2200 as tip,” he said.Such complaints of the patients galore in the hospital, but very few “bold” attendants complain, and then the administration is compelled for action, a senior employee of the hospital told KNS.“Whenever we receive any such complaint we take action,” the medical superintendent said. (KNS)