After a two-day public holiday, Sassoon General Hospital in Pune reopened on Tuesday to the sight of huge lines of people at its outpatient departments (OPDs). The ongoing resident doctor strike, which has been impeding hospital operations since last Tuesday, made the situation less than ideal.
The operation of the hospital has been significantly impacted by the strike. Patients who had come from nearby regions experienced long wait times and were frequently turned away because many diagnostic tests and consultations were not accessible. Dr. Yellapa Jadhav, the medical superintendent of the hospital, noted a notable decrease in patient admissions on Tuesday, from a usual of 190–200 per day to just 132. The strike has also resulted in fewer deliveries and cardiac treatments.
Patients voiced their displeasure and worries about the inadequate medical attention. Travelling from Solapur, Rajendra Phadnis described how difficult it had been for him to get care for a leg ailment that had been becoming worse. Because of the strike, he was unable to see a doctor despite his extreme agony and desperation, and he was told to come back after things changed.
The main reasons behind the resident doctors’ walkout are their demands for more security and protection against assault. The head of the BJ Medical College chapter of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Dr. Shivaji Munde, emphasized the importance of strictly enforcing the law to deter violence against medical professionals. He berated the absence of strong legislative safeguards for medical professionals, pointing out that although police officers are protected from violence by volatile family members, physicians are not.
In order to protect healthcare workers, Dr. Munde emphasized the need for the state government to enact laws akin to the Central Protection Act (CPA) and pushed for its swift implementation. The walkout was sparked by the persistent violence, including physical assaults, against doctors, which has led to worries about their safety and working circumstances. The strike is intended to demand the required adjustments.
There were no signs as of Tuesday that the strike would end soon, leaving numerous patients unaccounted for and adding to the already high level of stress at the hospital. The walkout serves as a reminder of the larger problem of healthcare worker safety and the necessity of structural adjustments to safeguard medical professionals while preventing serious compromises to patient care.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
