Healthcare services were crippled across the state on Friday after the striking junior doctors resorted to a blanket boycott of duties including emergency services in all the state-run hospitals from 5 pm on Friday.
Even as the health officials went into a huddle in their bid to make alternative arrangements, the absence of a significant 2,800 medicos took its toll on the poor patients.
Those who were rushed to the emergencies failed to get immediate treatment. Nurses and ward boys performed the suturing and other responsibilities, usually handled by the medicos who constitute 95 per cent of the medical workforce.
The medicos resorted to boycott of emergency services after the statement government refused to accept their demands, which includes a hike in the stipend. Since January 15, the medicos in Hyderabad had been boycotting elective duties and had also launched a hunger strike but the situation turned serious on Friday after they decided to stay away from emergency services too. Even though the medicos served the strike notice in the morning, no alternative arrangements were made till late in the night.
At Gandhi Hospital, there was only one senior doctor on duty in the emergency department. Similar was the scene at Osmania General Hospital, MNJ Cancer Hospital, Niloufer and Chest Hospital.
But the patient load remained much the same since the emergency duties were boycotted all of a sudden. The available staff was overburdened and unable to pay attention to the patients who were crying and yelling in pain. At OGH, authorities said that 29 doctors from non-clinical specialties have been arranged for the casualty, burns ward, acute medicine and acute surgery. "From Saturday, these doctors will be available. We cannot disturb the regular doctors," said Dr K Ramdas, superintendent, OGH.
The striking medicos held the state government responsible for the mess. "We are not going to give up our fight unless our demands are met. We tried our best to drive our point home during the last one month but the government provoked us to boycott emergency duties," said Dr Abhilash, president, junior doctors association, Gandhi Hospital.
Senior doctors said that the medical services would be hugely impacted by the stir.
They said that even if the government made alternative arrangements, it might not be sufficient to meet the huge workload. The senior doctors felt that the 40 per cent stipend hike being demanded by the medicos was not fair. Such a hike would mean their stipend would be on a par with the salary of a newly-recruited civil assistant surgeon. "How can a student draw a salary of over Rs 30,000," a doctor said.
Meanwhile, director, medical education, Dr B Vasantha Prasad who was busy making alternative arrangements in the late evening, said that about 100 doctors from non-clinical specialties had been deputed to each of the 10 medical colleges. Besides, he said that all the leaves had been cancelled and doctors asked to ensure that there was no breakdown of medical services.
Even as the health officials went into a huddle in their bid to make alternative arrangements, the absence of a significant 2,800 medicos took its toll on the poor patients.
Those who were rushed to the emergencies failed to get immediate treatment. Nurses and ward boys performed the suturing and other responsibilities, usually handled by the medicos who constitute 95 per cent of the medical workforce.
The medicos resorted to boycott of emergency services after the statement government refused to accept their demands, which includes a hike in the stipend. Since January 15, the medicos in Hyderabad had been boycotting elective duties and had also launched a hunger strike but the situation turned serious on Friday after they decided to stay away from emergency services too. Even though the medicos served the strike notice in the morning, no alternative arrangements were made till late in the night.
At Gandhi Hospital, there was only one senior doctor on duty in the emergency department. Similar was the scene at Osmania General Hospital, MNJ Cancer Hospital, Niloufer and Chest Hospital.
But the patient load remained much the same since the emergency duties were boycotted all of a sudden. The available staff was overburdened and unable to pay attention to the patients who were crying and yelling in pain. At OGH, authorities said that 29 doctors from non-clinical specialties have been arranged for the casualty, burns ward, acute medicine and acute surgery. "From Saturday, these doctors will be available. We cannot disturb the regular doctors," said Dr K Ramdas, superintendent, OGH.
The striking medicos held the state government responsible for the mess. "We are not going to give up our fight unless our demands are met. We tried our best to drive our point home during the last one month but the government provoked us to boycott emergency duties," said Dr Abhilash, president, junior doctors association, Gandhi Hospital.
Senior doctors said that the medical services would be hugely impacted by the stir.
They said that even if the government made alternative arrangements, it might not be sufficient to meet the huge workload. The senior doctors felt that the 40 per cent stipend hike being demanded by the medicos was not fair. Such a hike would mean their stipend would be on a par with the salary of a newly-recruited civil assistant surgeon. "How can a student draw a salary of over Rs 30,000," a doctor said.
Meanwhile, director, medical education, Dr B Vasantha Prasad who was busy making alternative arrangements in the late evening, said that about 100 doctors from non-clinical specialties had been deputed to each of the 10 medical colleges. Besides, he said that all the leaves had been cancelled and doctors asked to ensure that there was no breakdown of medical services.
No comments:
Post a Comment