Surgery cases pile up as NMC stir continues

Afzalgunj: Owing to the ongoing strike of doctors, the patients who are undergoing treatment at Osmania General Hospital (OGH) are having a tough time. Let alone the cases of out-patients, even the surgeries which were lined up to be performed are being delayed due to non-availability of senior doctors.

According to patients, several surgeries remained pending as the doctors continued their strike in Telangana. The doctors are only attending the surgeries for major, serious and emergency cases, while no minor cases were attended by doctors. Many a patients' surgeries were being delayed due to non availability of surgeons in hospital.

A patient with a small rod piercing through his calf was admitted about a month back. He was marked for surgery of his leg almost 10 days back, but his case is still getting postponed by the doctors. "The surgery of chin was conducted about 20 days back, but even after almost 10 days, my father's leg is yet to undergo surgery. I hope that at least today his case would be taken up," said G Kranti, son of a patient waiting in a queue since morning.

A patient from Bhainsa district who remained at the hospital for last 12 days and was under the care of doctors bemoans that no one was caring for him for last 4-5 days.

"For orthopedic surgery, they gave appointment for operation on Monday and for the last 3 days the patient has been getting ready for the operation but is getting disappointed due to non-availability of doctors. At last on Thursday, the patient was taken for surgery," said S Ram, son of another patient. Ram also said that doctors were accepting only five patients per day and there are several patients waiting in queue for their turn.

In burn and plastic surgery ward, for 4-5 days the doctors stopped attending to the patients. Many of the them are under the care of head nurse, who is hard put to handle the situation.

G Appan, attender of a patient said that they came from Vizag 20 days back, but doctors are not available in ward from last 4-5 days, the patient is being treated under supervision of head nurse. An asthma patient, Mohammed Azeemuddin, has been visiting OGH daily for last 8 days and each time he is being attended by a new doctor.