Patient care hit at public sector hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram

Patient care services were hit across all public sector hospitals in the district on Tuesday, a result of the boycott of outpatient clinics in government hospitals and medical college hospitals by the medical fraternity.

Most of the outpatient clinics in government institutions under the Health Services did not function as doctors, under the banner of the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, decided to go on leave en masse to protest against the manner in which doctors were being accused of medical negligence at every turn by people and the government “playing to the gallery” and not doing anything to defend doctors.

The KGMOA was also protesting against the government for not taking any action against those who unleashed violence at the Nedumangad Taluk Hospital, attacking the Hospital Superintendent and the District Medical Officer.

Though posters had been put up in hospitals that OP clinics would not be functioning on Tuesday, most patients did not seem to have known this and had to go back disappointed.

The KGMOA said doctors would continue the non-cooperation strike till the unfair action taken against the doctor accused of medical negligence at the Nedumangad hospital, even before the expert committee report had been out, was revoked.

Two persons were arrested for the violence at the hospital on Tuesday. The KGMOA said following discussions with the government, doctors would not be boycotting Attukal Pongala duties.

MCH doctors’ strike

Meanwhile, the boycott of OP clinics by medical college doctors entered the ninth day on Tuesday, with both doctors as well the government remaining unrelenting. Though the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association held a round of talks with the Chief Minister and the Health and Finance Ministers on Monday, no assurances were given by the government regarding the payment of pay revision arrears due to doctors or their other demands

At the Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, where around 4,000 patients used to attend the OP daily, the number has now dropped to around 1,200. In the Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, daily patient attendance has declined from about 4,500 to around 2,500.

With senior doctors staying away from the OP clinics, patients are being attended to by postgraduate students. As critical decision-making is not something that can be done independently, many patients have begun to move to private hospitals. Postponement of elective surgeries are also leading to much hardships for patients.

The association said it expected a positive outcome from the government soon regarding its demands. However, till then, the boycott of OP clinics and academic activities would continue.