Baby Chakraborty :- Patient services are severely disrupted in private hospitals across Kolkata as senior doctors observe the first day of a 48-hour partial work break in support of junior colleagues. Even various private hospitals have been disarmed and cancelled.
Two major organizations of senior doctors, the Federation of Medical Associations and Healthcare Professionals, called for the strike. This work break will continue from 6 am on Monday to 6 am on Wednesday. OPD services were stopped in most of the hospitals as a result of the doctors’ strike. Even scheduled surgeries have to be cancelled. Emergency services were operational at various hospitals, including The Woodlands, Bellevue, Peerless, but patient attendance was very low.
The work stoppage caused the cancellation of 40 scheduled surgeries at Bellevue Clinic. However, ten surgeries are performed in this hospital considering the emergency. Also the situation at Woodland Hospital is similar. There were 3 cath lab procedures done and 16 surgeries canceled. It is learned that 92 patients were present in the OPD of Peerless Hospital on Monday. Whereas last year there were 250 patients on the same day. Normally, the daily average attendance at Peerless is about 800, but the number of patients decreases during doctors’ breaks. Many patients are in danger due to closure of various services including OPD. Many people are forced to return without getting treatment on the appointed day.
A senior doctor said, “The state government has not yet accepted the demands of the junior doctors. We want immediate action.” Doctors organizations have also made the same claim.
