Doctors at Jaipur's prestigious Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital have issued an urgent appeal to the Rajasthan state government. They are calling for immediate intervention to tackle the critical issue of patients being unnecessarily referred from smaller district government hospitals. This practice, they state, is leading to a severe shortage of beds, extreme overcrowding, and a significant strain on the hospital's resources and staff.
Streamlining the Referral Process: A Call for Action
The medical professionals have highlighted that a flawed referral system is at the heart of the problem. Many patients with common illnesses or without serious complications are being sent to the tertiary care centre despite having conditions that could be effectively treated at their local district hospitals. This not only overwhelms SMS Hospital but also means that facilities and expertise at the referring hospitals remain underutilized. The doctors have demanded immediate action to streamline the referral process, ensuring that only patients with genuine, complex medical needs are directed to their facility.
Government Acknowledges the Systemic Issue
Taking serious note of these complaints, Medical Education Principal Secretary Gayatri Rathore addressed the matter on Saturday. She confirmed the observed pattern where numerous hospitals routinely refer patients to major facilities like SMS Hospital, JK Lon Hospital, Mahila Chikitsalaya, and Zenana Hospital even for routine cases. "This increases patient load on some hospitals while facilities available in other hospitals remain underutilised," Rathore stated, echoing the concerns raised by the SMS Hospital doctors.
New Measures for Crowd Management
Alongside addressing referrals, the Medical Education Department is implementing steps to improve crowd management within hospital premises. Rathore announced that a queue management and help desk system, similar to the one recently launched at Jaipuria Hospital, will be introduced in other major hospitals. This initiative aims to reduce chaos, improve patient experience, and ensure more efficient service delivery for those who genuinely require advanced care at these centres.
The situation underscores a critical need for better coordination within Rajasthan's public healthcare network. Effective triage and adherence to referral protocols are essential to ensure that specialized hospitals like SMS can focus on their primary role of handling complex cases, while district hospitals function at their optimal capacity.
