Post rains, the occurrences of dengue, chikungunya and malaria have increased significantly but the hospitals, both government and private, in the city seem to lack adequate beds, drugs and other healthcare logistics to handle the situation.

Even though huge amounts are spent by the government on tertiary and primary health care, adequate beds seem to be overlooked.

With increasing number of patients pouring in from all over the Gwalior- Chambal Division and even from far off places like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the underprepared city hospitals pose a serious concern for all.

Most of the hospitals including the prestigious JAH have an acute shortage of pharmacists, technicians, nurses and other support staff and this too is a cause of great concern.

It is no exaggeration to state that optimal conditions for the spread of the vector borne viral diseases, like Dengue, Chikungunya and Malaria in the city. Garbage and lack of sanitation extends all over the city and with the civic body’s losing battle with water filled sewers, old tyres, plastic containers and refuse that are excellent hatcheries for dengue-carrying mosquito larvae continues, the diseases are fast turning into epidemics of serious proportion.

As many as 471 cases of dengue were reported in the city last year, but the sad and shocking thing is neither the Municipal Corporation nor the Health Department learnt any lessons from that.

The lack of preparation and alertness on the part of authorities is evident from the number of patients, in critical conditions lying on the floors, galleries and around the lifts in JAH, Kamla Raja Hospital and the District Hospital. In some cases three to four patients are seen sharing one bed.

The lack of drugs is another cause of great worry. Currently a dengue patient has to shell out more than Rs 10000.00 for the treatment and tests.

In many cases, the patients are forced to buy the medicines from outside and this increases the financial burden, especially for those who come from poor backgrounds. Families who are already experiencing the trauma of seeing one of their loved ones sick due to dengue are also forced to content with heavy financial burden.