Asia’s largest medical hospital in public sector, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), is undergoing a massive infrastructure revamp, the first of its kind in nearly 75 years. While the overhaul is a much-needed step towards modernisation, patients and visitors are, however, finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the hospital due to the lack of proper signages amidst the ongoing construction. Given the mammoth spread of the hospital, a layman is bound to get lost in the corridors and a wrong turn can leave him flustered, apart from wasting precious time in finding the right chamber.

 

The hospital campus is spread over 196 acres of land and is 1,800 bedded tertiary care nursing unit. It has nearly 55 wards and 6 major intensive care units (ICU), besides separate departmental ICUs. The massive structure of the hospital is spread over 84,000 sq.ft area, which necessitates proper directions to avoid confusion among the visitors, mostly the patients. In the meantime, the interiors of the hospital remain a work in progress. With dug-up corridors and unmarked pathways, patients continue to struggle on a daily basis.

 

A major concern remains the absence of clear and visible signage throughout the hospital. Although there are some signs at the ground floor entrance, the upper floors, particularly the second and third, have little to no direction boards. This absence leads to chaos and confusion among patients and their families. “I have been trying to figure out the maternity ward for 15 minutes now,” said a pregnant woman who had come for a routine check-up. Similarly, Kailash Seth, a 42-year-old man from Umred, said, “I am here since morning and I am pretty sure I’ve lost my way at least a couple of times till now.” The signage problem is not limited to a few departments. Building identification boards, directional signs, and departmental markers are either missing or unclear. Even though some rooms are labelled, like ‘Doctor’s Office’, ‘Emergency Room’, or ‘ICU’, there are no directions guiding patients on how to reach them, which adds to their distress. “This hospital is like a maze. I’m trying to find the Pathology Department, but I just can’t seem to figure it out. It’s a real struggle,” said Akshata, a student.

 

 

Aware of the problem faced by patients and newcomers to the massive hospital building, the GMCH administration has already discussed the issue and new signages would be affixed soon, said Dr Avinash Gawande, Superintendent, GMCH. While talking to ‘The Hitavada’, he added that, along with the existing signages, new ones will be put up too once the ongoing revamp of hospital is completed. A sum of Rs 3.50 lakh had been sanctioned for the same. Meanwhile, the administration is taking help of Niramay Bahuddeshiya Seva Sanstha, translators, and security personnel deployed across the hospital to assist patients and visitors.” While the infrastructure upgrade is a significant step forward for GMCH, the absence of adequate signage in the interim is making hospital visits an overwhelming experience for many. Until the revamp is complete, patients hope for better on-ground support and temporary navigation aids to help ease their journey.