Srinagar, Jan 9: Haphazard parking of vehicles in the premises of the Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura here is causing immense hardships to patients visiting the tertiary care hospital on daily basis.
 The mismanagement is quite visible at the hospital as hundreds of vehicles remain parked at its main entrance hampering the movement of patients and ambulances.
 Scene near the Casualty is no different with bikes and auto rickshaws parked just outside its entrance.
 Around 2 pm on Monday, three critical patients from Bandipora, Baramulla and Ganderbal had to be disembarked from the vehicles halfway and carried on shoulders to the emergency reception by their attendants as the approach road was blocked by vehicles.
 Even staff vehicles were placed outside the entrance of the Out-patients department which caused immense inconvenience to patients and attendants.
 “The hospital compound has been turned into a transport yard. Auto rickshaws are running a stand from here. Ironically, the hospital management is acting a mute spectator to the mess,” said a doctor wishing anonymity.
 A group of doctors said the hospital premises remains occupied by parked vehicles. “This makes it difficult for the rescue teams to reach here. Even outsiders including shopkeepers park their cars and motorcycles here,” officials told Greater Kashmir.
 “In case of emergency, this can pose risk to patients. But who cares?,” they said.
 They said the patients face inconvenience due to noise of vehicles. “Silence is the essence of patient care. However, the patients are exposed to continuous noise of vehicles. Several complaints were brought into the notice of the Director. But nothing emerged out of it. Recently, a patient having poor eyesight collided with a vehicle and suffered injuries,” they said.
 Attendants and patients expressed strong resentment against exorbitant parking charges in the SKIMS parking slots.
 “In the first place, there should be no parking charges in the hospital. People don’t visit the hospital for any entertainment but treatment. We fail to understand how Rs 20 is charged for four wheelers and Rs 10 for two-wheelers as parking fees. In other hospitals in the Valley the parking charges for four wheelers is Rs 10 and for two-wheelers Rs 5 respectively,” they said.
 Despite repeated attempts SKIMS Medical Superintendent could not be available for comments.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST