Doctors strike across Telangana hits medical services

Hyderabad: While the medical fraternity from Telangana observed a bandh on Thursday following the call by the IMA demanding amendments to the bill to set up National Medical Commission, it was the patients across the state who were left in the lurch.

Patients suffered as they could not get any medical help, including diagnostic and lab tests. A Prakash, an AC technician from Kukatpally who had gone to NIMs at Punjagutta, said that he got OP consultation from gastroenterology department, but could not get ultrasound scan done on Thursday.

He said that the room was empty with no staff. Similarly, no staff was available for 2D echo.

C Venkataiah, a farmer from Suryapet, was brought to NIMS for OP consultation by his son and daughter for severe knee and joint pains. Though they met physician and got his prescription, they were made to wait for a few hours to get lab tests done.

NIMS authorities said that they have cut down on issuing OP registrations considerably for the last few days owing to resident doctors staying away from duties for few hours every day.

Government doctors, working in various state hospitals held black badge protests for some time in their respective hospitals, after which they resumed regular duties.

OP footfall has fallen by nearly 40 to 50 per cent and elective surgeries are being postponed at OGH and Gandhi hospitals after junior doctors began boycotting all duties from last one week.

The government hospitals in Sangareddy and other districts also faced similar situations and the patients had to go back disappointed without getting medical aid.

However, junior doctors mostly from Osmania, Gandhi, Kakatiya medical colleges and resident doctors from NIMS, who held "Telangana Vaidya Mahagarjana" at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park said that this fight of theirs was not for any of their demands but to protect the medical system.

The bill passed by the government could have dangerous repercussions as it could even lead to legitimising quackery, they said.