No clean bill of health for CWG

Severe dearth of medical practitioners; many can't get into venues because of non-delivery of accreditation cards

Life is short; it could be shorter still if you are planning to spend time at the Commonwealth Games Village. This is not just about poisonous reptiles and unreliable beds. According to reports, a workforce of only two doctors and two nurses are currently at the disposal of the 2200 athletes at the training venues in case of a medical emergency.


Great scots! Participants from Scotland at the Commonwealth Games
Village in New Delhi on Monday. PIC/Imtiyaz Khan

As per health officials deputed inside the Games Village, one of the most important equipments required to be at the disposal of an athlete, i.e. a physiotherapy machine, is yet to arrive, and ambulances too are absent from training venues.

"We don't have a physiotherapy machine or a physiotherapist with us. Even stretcher-bearers and ambulances are not available. These things are of utmost importance. If an athlete gets injured while playing, we need a physiotherapist to treat him," said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.

"Earlier our department had asked us to be at the venues with accreditation cards, but this was not approved by the Organising Committee (OC). So, now our accreditation cards have become useless," said an official from Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS).

Even the doctors on duty at the University Polo Grounds too are complaining about not having physios with them.

"The Games are about to begin. My physiotherapists have not reported yet. I do not have the training schedule," said one of the doctors present at the venue.

Medical staff present at the various venues had already complained about the numerous problems they were facing at the respective venues. Many doctors have still not got their accreditation cards that would allow them to enter the venues.

"I am in a tough situation here .There is no electricity so the ACs don't work. Water supply is sluggish and washrooms are not ready. I am really stressed out as I am the only doctor posted at this venue and am handling everything on my own," said a doctor.

When contacted the Health Minister, Dr Kiran Walia, appeared unaware of the issue."I have just checked the polyclinic inside the Village. It has two physiotherapists but I will have to check the training venues. If they are not available, I will make sure that they will be made available by tomorrow," said Dr Walia.

There are two locations at the Games Village that are crucial as far as medical treatment of athletes is concerned. One is the polyclinic and the other the training venues.

As per sources present inside the area, many people have not received their accreditation cards to start working at the polyclinic, while those at the training venues got theirs only a day ago.

Though the deadline of delivering the accreditation cards was September 10, but half of the people still remain on the waiting list.

"We were told that we will get the accreditation cards within fifteen days. But, those fifteen days never came," said a senior official from health department on the condition of anonymity.

Even the Health Department accepted that many people have not received their accreditation cards."Around 350 doctors and other paramedic staff applied for accreditation cards. Only 200 have received deliveries so far," said Dr S Bhattacharjee, director, Directorate of Health Services (DHS).