Patients suffer as civil hospital refuses defunct currency

LUDHIANA: Despite the Centre's directive to government hospitals to accept defunct notes till November 24, Ludhiana civil hospital is not accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes giving patients a harrowing time.

During a visit on Wednesday, staff in the OPD block dispensary refused to accept old currency notes of 500 and 1,000 denominations. Also, the security standing outside doctor's room at emergency ward was asking for change before allowing any patient or relative to enter.

One of the visitors Saurav from Shimlapuri alleged that on Tuesday he visited the hospital dispensary to get medicine for his uncle, who was admitted there, but the staff denied accepting old notes. A family member of another patient admitted in the trauma ward had a similar experience. Saurav said, "I had to go outside to get the medicines and private chemist asked for Rs 50 extra if I wanted to pay with Rs 500 notes."

Another patient Gurdeep Singh, who is admitted in the orthopaedics ward, said he had to get his X-ray done but the staff refused to accept the old currency notes saying that they would only accept new currency that is acceptable in the market.

Some of the patients said the hospital should accept defunct currency notes as the government has allowed the same. Vikram of Haibowal, who was visiting his relative admitted in the emergency ward, said even some private chemists outside the hospital were accepting defunct notes but the hospital was not and it was causing a lot of trouble for the patients and their family members.

Meanwhile, civil surgeon Dr Renu Chhatwal has refuted the allegations saying that the hospital was accepting the old currency. She added that there might be some problem regarding availability of short denomination notes in the hospital and she would check the situation and guidelines would again be given to the staff to accept defunct notes at the hospital.