The grim reality of patient care at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur has come to light through distressing images captured by The Live Nagpur, highlighting poor sanitation, severe overcrowding, and ongoing construction work that has turned the hospital into a makeshift survival zone.
A series of exclusive photographs taken by Live Nagpur reveal shocking conditions, including a broken toilet, non-functional water taps installed by the authorities, and a chaotic construction site where marble installation is underway while patients and their families struggle to navigate through the rubble.
One of the most alarming images shows a patient being carried through the under-construction area, raising serious safety concerns. With the waiting areas completely full, hundreds of people are forced to sleep on hospital floors. Some desperate relatives have fashioned makeshift beds out of cardboard, while others are seen sleeping outside.
Adding to the distress, a signboard outside the hospital canteen states that only staff are allowed, preventing patients and their families from accessing food. Many of them are left with no option but to arrange meals from outside vendors or go hungry while waiting for medical attention. The lack of drinking water further exacerbates their plight, as taps installed by authorities remain dry, failing to provide even the most basic necessity of clean water.
However, one of the most concerning issues remains the rampant mosquito infestation. A patient’s relative, who was forced to sleep outside due to the lack of space inside, managed to capture shocking images of mosquitoes swarming the hospital premises. Stagnant water near the hospital, combined with poor sanitation, has turned the area into a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. With patients already battling illnesses, the presence of mosquitoes increases the risk of infections, including vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.
A visitor at GMCH, Abdul Sharif, expressed frustration over the situation. “We are here to take care of our sick relatives, but instead, we are forced to sleep on the floor, fight mosquitoes all night, and struggle to get clean water or proper restrooms. This is not how a hospital should operate,” they said.
The construction work, instead of improving facilities, has only made the conditions worse. Dust, debris, and construction materials are scattered throughout the hospital, making it difficult for both patients and medical staff to move around safely. There are also concerns that the unhygienic conditions could lead to infections among patients who are already vulnerable due to their illnesses.
Despite ongoing construction, there appears to be no immediate relief for those affected by these dire conditions. Authorities have remained largely unresponsive to complaints, and patients continue to suffer amid noise, dust, and the hazards of an incomplete infrastructure. With growing frustration among the public, calls for urgent intervention are increasing.
Medical professionals, too, have voiced concerns about hygiene and safety risks, but no concrete measures have been implemented.
As hospital management remains silent, the question remains: when will these systemic issues be addressed? Until then, the patients and their families continue to endure what can only be described as a crisis in public healthcare.