Two sets of rules for doctors at PGI?

Ritika Jha Palial

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, July 6

Resident doctors at the PGI are a harassed lot. In addition to the compulsory duties in the Emergency round the clock, they are being made to work on non-emergency cases even on public holidays while consultants take a day off from work. 

The latest example of this practice was the elective surgeries carried out at the institute on June 19. While the OPDs at the PGI were closed, certain authorities of the PGI kept the elective OTs functional. This is despite the UT Administration having declared it a public holiday in view of the 350th foundation day of Gurdwara Anandpur Sahib. Certain senior doctors “take the government orders and circulars for granted” and while on summer vacation themselves, they keep their resident doctors working.

The consultants and the regular OT staff can claim this leave, leaving only the resident doctors slogging. 

A copy of the duty roster for the operation theatres at the PGI, issued on June 19, showed that a total of 30 resident doctors were on duty across 20 operation theatres. 

“While the services in the Emergency cannot be stopped even on public holidays, at least the resident doctors can have some relief from non-emergency cases. If consultants can avail a total of 45 days of summer and winter vacation, besides public holidays, why can’t the resident doctors even take a public holiday. This is clear discrimination,” said a PGI resident, requesting anonymity.

The PGI authorities maintained that the surgeries or procedures were not cancelled when a public holiday was declared at a short notice for patient convenience. However, they failed to explain why they kept the OPDs closed, and why the consultants on vacation were not called to join duty.

“This implies that the baggage of overwork is on the resident doctors alone,” said another doctor. This has happened on several occasions in the past such as on account of Rock Garden creator Nek Chand’s death on June 12 and the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh last year.

“There is already a long waiting period for surgeries and patients coming from far-off locations. We have a 

circular that clearly states that all pre-planned services will continue as usual in case of the declaration of a public holiday at a short notice,” said the PGI’s official spokesperson, Manju Wadwalkar.

There are over 2,000 resident doctors at the PGI and nearly 500 consultants. 

Of these, about 300 consultants are available in clinical departments. The resident doctors often work for 16 to 18 hours at a stretch.