The quality of medical assistance provided at the Nalchik hospital has drawn criticism towards the Ministry of Health.

An 85-year-old critically ill patient waited for about two hours for a doctor at the Nalchik hospital, and the nurses did not show him the proper attention, his daughter complained on social media. Other residents of Kabardino-Balkaria, commenting on her complaint, shared similar cases of long waits for medical assistance in the hospital and placed the responsibility for the quality of medical care on the leadership of the Ministry of Health of the republic.

According to one of the residents of Nalchik, her critically ill 85-year-old father waited for about two hours for a doctor in the hospital's emergency department (RKB). She reported that her father was brought from the clinic on an urgent referral with bilateral pneumonia. During the wait, his condition worsened, he was freezing, and could no longer sit in a wheelchair. The Nalchik resident criticized the attitude of the emergency department nurses towards the patient.

"My father is extremely ill, has been operated on, and is lying in intensive care. Thank you very much to the doctors, and a huge thank you to the nurse who gave us a blanket. My father was freezing with bilateral pneumonia, and to them, the nurses, Allah is the judge," the author of the complaint pointed out, whose appeal was published on November 11 by the Instagram* public goloskbr.

As of 13:55 MSK on November 14, this post on the Instagram* public goloskbr, which has about 195.2 thousand followers, received 2073 likes and 1031 comments.

Other local residents shared similar cases of long waits for medical assistance in the comments. One user reported that her mother died after being admitted to intensive care. "Wishing your father a speedy recovery. My mother was kept for about five hours until her blood pressure dropped, and she died in intensive care. I can't stand this hospital," wrote to_tam_to_tut_09.

Another woman recounted that her husband was brought to the emergency department after a car accident with a bleeding head wound, but the medical staff did not hurry to help him. "I will never forget how at three in the morning I ran in and saw my husband with a bloody head. He was sitting in some office on a stool, nearly losing consciousness. Blood was dripping down his face, he could barely speak, and couldn't see anything. He was brought in an hour ago after the accident. The nurses were sitting and drinking tea. What is this? <...> Following me, staff came in and asked: 'Where is the lieutenant colonel?' I don't know how to call them. They rushed in, wiped the blood, blew on the wound, and stroked his head," wrote nur_elbi07.

"A couple of days ago, our grandmother was also kept in the emergency room on a couch for more than a day, and she is over 80 years old, and there wasn't even a chair for the caregiver to sit. I had to bring a chair from home," reported maremukovasaneta.

Other commentators emphasized that medical staff must treat patients attentively and consider the severity of their condition. One participant in the discussion, identifying herself as a medical worker with many years of experience, called the indifference to patients unacceptable. "What a disgrace to our profession. Nurses, what do you want from the sick, why did you study, why work in a hospital if you can't tolerate patients? I will praise myself. I have worked in medicine for 55 years without a single complaint or just dissatisfaction from patients. I chose this profession out of love. There have been many difficulties, too many to list. But I have always empathized with patients, comforted them, and did everything as if for my own relatives <...>," wrote lueva_a.

The right of patients to medical assistance does not depend on the mood of hospital staff, emphasized another participant in the discussion. "Some emergency department staff behave as if they are kings there, and patients are obliged to humiliate themselves and remain silent before them. They do not consider people as people: instead of helping, they start being rude, acting smart, and talking down to patients. Remember: a medical worker is not the master of human life and not the boss over patients. A sick person comes to the hospital not for a favor, but for medical assistance <...>," wrote 5148vitalii.

Other participants in the discussion placed the responsibility for the quality of medical assistance on the leadership of the Ministry of Health of Kabardino-Balkaria and called for a response from the agency to patients' complaints. "I want nurses and doctors to fulfill their direct duties. And not treat you like garbage. But the fish rots from the head. Everything depends on the Minister of Health, and when was the last time we had a normal minister who loves not money, but his work?" wrote bosh2748.

Addressing the Ministry of Health is necessary to draw attention to possible violations by medical workers, believes another user. "The author should not write complaints here, if they wanted to, but to the Ministry of Health. Our doctors and nurses are some kind of 'mafia', unpunished for their mistakes and inaction. If you didn't want to complain to the Ministry of Health, then don't complain anywhere. They will continue to work and treat others the same way," believes tikis.07.

Another participant in the discussion pointed out that after appeals to the Ministry of Health, medical institution staff begin to pay more attention to their duties. "If their psyche cannot cope, let them look for another job. They studied for this, thinking what? The patient is already feeling bad, and their relatives are also worried. And the rude attitude of the medical staff has been with us for a long time. But as soon as you call the Ministry of Health, they remember their duties," stated user kamennoe_serdce_0305.

As of 13:50 MSK, there are no comments on the website of the Ministry of Health of Kabardino-Balkaria regarding complaints from local residents about the quality of medical assistance in hospitals.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that residents of Kabardino-Balkaria had previously complained about the quality of medical assistance, including at the Republican Clinical Hospital. For example, on May 6 of this year, it became known that the mother of a deceased patient Rimma Kaskulova continues to seek compensation from three hospitals in the republic where her son was treated. An insurance company inspection revealed violations in the provision of medical assistance, including at the RKB. The court proceedings are ongoing.

On April 12, 2024, the mother of a Nalchik resident with epilepsy complained that her daughter was refused the necessary medication despite a court ruling. According to her, the patient's condition worsened, and an appeal to the Ministry of Health of the republic did not help resolve the issue. The head of the public organization "Patient Monitor" Ibrahim Sultygov also pointed out the lack of results after appeals to the agency.

On August 19, 2022, the head of the public organization "People's Control of Kabardino-Balkaria" Vladimir Tumov announced a collection of complaints against doctors at the Republican Clinical Hospital after an insurance company's examination revealed violations in the provision of medical assistance to him. Tumov stated that as a result of the operation, one of his legs became three centimeters shorter than the other, and demanded an investigation.