Statistics of the past five years show an average of 2,500 patients from Panchmahals are referred to the SSG every year. Though a majority of the 210 beds (which rises to 250-300 in an emergency) in the seven-ward hospital were occupied when Express Newsline paid a visit, Civil Hospital Superintendent M A Maheshwari maintained the referrals did not reflect badly on the solitary civil hospital in the district.

``Between 75,000 and 80,000 patients are treated here annually,'' he claimed. Hospital sources, however, said that a majority of these patients were ones who needed immediate attention, and had no option to the local hospital.

One doesn't have to look too far to find out why the big city hospital is preferred to the local one. ``The X-ray facility here is poor, the air-conditioner in the burns ward is little better than a fan'', said a hospital worker explaining why accident victims -- mostly cases of head injuries or 60 per cent burns -- from Halol, Kalol, Godhra and other talukas went to Vadodara.

The hospital lift was repaired three months after it had developed a snag. Relatives of patients had no option to carrying them to the first floor. A dialysis machine is inoperational as there is no air-conditioned room for it.

Maheshwari held the PWD department responsible for the state of affairs. ``What can we do if they don't sanction a new air-conditioner for the burns ward? They were supposed to repair the lift too, at the earliest'', he said.A PWD official passed the blame on to the State Government. ``We are awaiting grants for lift repairs in several hospitals but only funds for SSG Hospital have been released,'' he said, adding that the contractor had fixed the Godhra hospital lift only temporarily.

The PWD executive engineer at Godhra, meanwhile, alleged the civil surgeon's delay in submitting the report on the dialysis facility was responsible for the fact that there was no suitable room for it. ``Anyway, we have floated tenders. Once the formalities are through, the room will be ready,'' he said.

The hospital staff, too, can be held responsible for the exodus of patients to Vadodara. At present, the gynaecologist is on extended maternity leave; patients thus have to rely on visiting gynaecologists or a honourary gynaecologist with a private practice.

``A specialist should be present to tend to any kind of gynaecological emergency. Since that isn't available, patients will naturally go elsewhere,'' a hospital official said.

Cases of incorrect treatment, patient mismanagement and medical corruption reported by the local press have further soiled the hospital's image.``The people who come here belong essentially to the economically weaker sections. Off late, even they've started going to private clinics, though they're more expensive. It only shows how sorry a figure this hospital cuts,'' the official said.

Apprised of the matter, State Minister for Health Ashok Bhatt said he would transfer the gynaecologist for dereliction of duty. ``We'll ensure funds for the hospital equipment is released soon,'' he said, adding that the Ministry planned to provide civil hospitals in the districts with incubators, trauma clinics and new X-Ray machines by the year-end.