CHITRADURGA: The building of the Ayush department on the premises of the Chitradurga district hospital is in bad shape.
This is the third building that has been allotted to Ayush doctors by the district hospital and it has been declared unfit by engineers as it has crossed over 85 years, said hospital sources.
As the building may cave in any time, duty doctors, sub-staff and patients fear an accident is imminent.
Although doctors have appealed to the authorities to shift the wing to a better building, nothing has been done. The roof of the building is damaged and may fall any time. Six Ayush doctors work in the building - three of Ayurveda, and one expert each of yoga and naturopathy, homeopathy and Unani. They have been treating patients since 2008.
Hundreds of patients visit the centre every day and "we provide all our medicines for free," said homeopathy doctor Devaraj.
Dr HKS Swamy, the president of the Chitradurga district Karnataka Jnana Vignana Samithi (KJVS), said heavy seepage during the rains had led to the damaged roof, falling concrete and exposed iron rods.
A large volume of waste is dumped on the grounds close to the Ayush division. The doctors and patients who visit the division often inhale the foul smell of the waste, Dr Swamy said.
"Let the authorities build a separate building for the Ayush wing and extend its service to a greater number of patients," Dr Swamy said. "There are not enough chairs for patients to sit."
District hospital sources said the Ayush wing will be demolished for a proposed government medical college.
Dr Swamy said Ayush doctors are treated like a second-grade citizens.
TOI tried to contact district surgeon Dr Basavaraj for several times, he did not take calls.