A video showing patients in a Uttar Pradesh hospital being fanned by hand due to a power outage has sparked outrage and criticism of the state's healthcare system. The incident, which reportedly occurred at a district hospital in Hardoi, has been widely shared on social media, with opposition parties and the public condemning the situation as a reflection of mismanagement and neglect.
The video depicts a sweltering ward where patients and their attendants are resorting to manual fanning to cope with the heat. This scene has drawn sharp reactions, with many questioning the state government's claims of providing world-class healthcare.
The Congress party has been particularly vocal in its criticism, sharing the video and asserting that it exposes the "world class health system" in Uttar Pradesh. They allege that the incident highlights the crumbling health infrastructure in the state, attributing it to a lack of accountability and oversight. Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary of the Congress, stated that the government has other priorities, and basic requirements such as health and education are not the concern of the BJP regime. He further added that since 2017, there have been many instances of disasters in hospitals due to negligence, and the viral video shows how bad the health infrastructure is in Uttar Pradesh.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also weighed in on the matter, demanding accountability from the government. He shared the video on social media platform X, questioning whether there was a conflict between the Power Minister and the Health Minister, leading to the power outage in the ICU ward of the Hardoi medical college, despite having a separate line. He criticized the Health Minister for focusing on other matters and urged him to pay more attention to his department.
Social media users have also expressed their anger and disappointment, with many demanding that the government take immediate action to address the issue. Some users highlighted the plight of patients and their families who are suffering due to the lack of basic amenities in hospitals.
Similar incidents have been reported from other parts of Uttar Pradesh as well. A recent report highlighted the electricity crisis in Mainpuri village, where villagers have been facing power outages for the past 15 days. According to the report, even the emergency ward of the district hospital in Mainpuri was affected by the power failure, with attendants using mobile phone torches to assist patients.
These incidents raise serious concerns about the state of healthcare infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. While the government has been touting its efforts to improve healthcare services, the reality on the ground appears to be quite different. The lack of basic amenities like electricity in hospitals not only causes immense discomfort to patients but also puts their lives at risk.
