09 November,2011 07:10 AM IST | | Astha Saxena
All complaints have fallen on deaf ears
While it has no qualms about spending crores of rupees in beautification, the country's premier medical institutes, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) gets thrifty when it comes to technology. The institute has not upgraded any of its computer.
Technologically challenged? The institute still does not have the access
to Wi-Fi facility, which is restricted only to hostels. File pic
Apparently, the particular section that looks after computers was given to a private firm in 2007. Since then, there has been no development or improvement in the computers, in spite of a large number of complaints. Interestingly, the institute still does not have the access to Wi-Fi facility; it being restricted only to hostels. The hostel provides accommodation to only 50 per cent of the total students, so rest of the doctors can't even use that.
"None of the computers in various departments have been repaired and they are lying as scrap, despite several complaints. We were told the institute will look into the matter, but it has been seven months now and nothing has happened," said one of the doctors on the condition of anonymity.
"An order was issued to doctors to issue a computerised discharge sheet to patients, but due to the non-functional computers, they have been preparing hand-written discharge notices," said one of the doctors from Orthopaedic department, on the condition of anonymity.
Resident Doctors Association (RDA) president Dr Debjyoti Karmakar said, "We have made numerous complaints regarding the non-working computers. Loopholes have been pointed out long time ago, but nothing has been done as yet." Also, the official website of the institute has not been updated for the last many months.
The other side
Dr P P Kotwal, in-charge, computer facility, said, "Wi-Fi facility is available in the hostel, but we are trying to get it in the institute too. Regarding the departmental computers, I guess all of them are working properly. If anyone is facing any problem, they should write an immediate complaint. A private firm is looking after the problem and they will come to solve it." Talking about the website not being updated, Kotwal remained silent and passed the buck to the hospital administration. Dr Y K Gupta, official spokesperson, AIIMS, said, "We have requested every department to update the website accordingly. And soon, the institute will also have Wi-Fi facility."
