The impact of the ongoing closure of private medical chambers became evident at GB Hospital on Tuesday, as the hospital's Outpatient Department (OPD) witnessed an overwhelming rush of patients from early morning.

Patients and their family members, who had travelled from different parts of the state, were forced to wait in long queues for hours to receive medical attention. The excessive crowd caused significant inconvenience, with many struggling to cope with the long wait and limited facilities.

The Gynaecology OPD recorded the highest patient turnout. Pregnant women were seen standing in queues for hours in the heat while waiting for consultations. Their accompanying family members also faced similar hardships. Due to inadequate seating arrangements, many patients were left standing or sitting on the floor.

Patients and attendants complained that the hospital's existing infrastructure is not equipped to handle such a large influx of people. They said prolonged waiting times, overcrowding and hot weather have worsened the condition of many patients, with some alleging that they became more unwell while waiting for treatment.

According to several visitors, although GB Hospital has traditionally experienced heavy patient footfall, the situation on Tuesday was unprecedented. With private doctors' chambers remaining closed, a majority of patients have been compelled to seek treatment at government hospitals, resulting in a sharp rise in daily patient numbers.

Long queues were also reported at registration counters, various service desks and outside doctors' consultation rooms. Elderly patients, pregnant women, children and those with serious illnesses were among the worst affected by the delays.

Patients and their families have urged the authorities to immediately deploy additional doctors and healthcare workers, increase the number of registration counters, improve seating arrangements and introduce alternative measures to manage the growing patient load. They warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the situation could become increasingly difficult to control in the coming days.