Patients Overwhelm Gauhati Medical College Amid Trust Issues

Patients are increasingly flocking to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, leaving these institutions overburdened. This trend highlights significant issues within the state healthcare system, including a profound lack of trust in local medical colleges. Despite the presence of 14 operational medical colleges in Assam, many patients prefer to seek treatment at GMCH, leading to alarming overcrowding.

The GMCH serves a vast population, catering to patients from Guwahati and surrounding regions, including lower Assam and parts of middle Assam and the hill districts. Medical professionals have noted that patients from areas near other medical colleges often opt for GMCH instead. One doctor, speaking anonymously, stated, “The GMCH is always overburdened…and the main problem is, the GMCH cannot send back anyone.”

This influx is exacerbated by the fact that other medical colleges frequently refer serious cases to GMCH. Patients requiring complex procedures such as cardio-thoracic surgery and neurosurgery often find themselves directed to GMCH due to the lack of facilities and experienced staff at their local institutions. “It is a case of buildings cannot treat patients,” remarked another doctor.

On a typical day, GMCH sees approximately 3,000 patients at its outpatient department (OPD). With the capacity to treat around 100 patients daily, the facility struggles when daily attendance spikes to between 400 and 500. This surge makes it nearly impossible for healthcare providers to deliver quality care. “We cannot provide quality treatment to everyone if so many patients turn up in a day,” a doctor explained, noting the constraints faced by medical staff.

While facilities like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi also deal with overcrowding, they have policies in place to manage patient intake by turning away excess patients when beds are full. In contrast, GMCH adapts by adding extra beds to wards as needed. On average, the hospital admits between 2,300 and 2,400 patients daily, with peak numbers reaching around 2,800. This level of patient volume creates significant challenges for doctors and nurses as they strive to provide adequate care.

The situation is particularly dire in the Gynecology and Pediatrics Departments, which consistently experience high patient volumes. The hospital records an average of 30 to 40 births daily, with many newborns suffering from conditions such as jaundice that require phototherapy. The overwhelming demand has forced the hospital to abandon the standard of “one bed, one baby.”

A critical shortcoming identified by medical staff is the severe shortage of nurses in the intensive care units (ICUs). To cope, family members are allowed to enter the ICU to feed patients, which raises concerns about potential infection risks.

Despite these challenges, health professionals agree on a fundamental need for improvement in the perception of local medical colleges. They stress that enhancing the quality of healthcare provided at these institutions is vital for rebuilding patient trust. As one doctor put it, steps must be taken to increase the confidence of the people in other medical colleges throughout the state.

The situation at GMCH serves as a stark reminder of the broader issues facing the healthcare system in Assam, highlighting the urgent need for reforms and investment to ensure that all patients receive the quality care they deserve.