Politicians and residents are up in arms against Bokaro General Hospital (BGH), alleging it is unable to provide proper care to Covid-19 patients, their sentiments finding support among members of a local trade union who held a demonstration on Friday at the main gate of Bokaro Steel, the PSU that manages the hospital.

Members of Krantikari Ispat Majdoor Sangh (KIMS) also registered complaints with BSL department heads and told them about how BGH staff were delaying attending to patients.

Sangh general secretary Sangram Singh said, “BGH is unable to manage after a few of its doctors tested positive for the coronavirus. Workers are complaining about poor services and treatment.”

BGH, which is a dedicated Covid hospital managed by BSL, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), is considered to be the lifeline for residents. More than a dozen doctors, including the director, and health workers have tested positive. Barring four doctors who are under treatment, the rest have got cured.

A BGH official, however, defended those working in the hospital, saying they were doing so against all odds. “Doctors and staff members of the hospital are trying their best. Doctors’ rounds are monitored more closely now,” he said.

Of the 1,120 patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Bokaro district as of now, as many as 210 were admitted to the BGH Covid ward. More than two dozen positive cases have recovered from critical condition. Of the 13 Covid deaths registered in the district, six were at BGH.

BSL employee P.K. Pandey spoke of how his daughter, who was suffering breathing problems, was left unattended for half an hour. “On Tuesday, I took my daughter to BGH for treatment at 9.00pm. No doctor or nurse came to see her till 9.30pm. Later, when I informed senior officials, a nurse came and provided oxygen to her and vanished,” he said.

Bokaro MLA Viranchi Narayan said that despite its huge infrastructure, medical equipment and doctors, BGH was unable to function satisfactorily. “Treatment and care of Covid patients is not up to the mark. What exactly are BGH doctors doing when Covid patients are being referred to elsewhere?” he said.

JMM city president Mantu Yadav seconded Narayan, saying health services at BGH had deteriorated in the past one month. “Doctors have started neglecting patients. Instead of treating them they find it easy to refer them to other hospitals,” he said, adding that he would request chief minister Hemant Soren to look into the matter.