It’s gynaecologists vs women specialists at Civil Hospital

Pawan Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 14

Women doctors in the gynaecology wing and other departments at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital have been at loggerheads over allocation of duties in the emergency ward and for examining sexual assault victims.

Women specialist doctors have urged the authorities concerned to direct gynaecologists for examining rape and sexual assault victims. On the other hand, gynaecologists point out that they already have a high number of patients in the out-patient department (OPD) and they also come to hospital for attending emergency cases besides conducting caesarean deliveries.

“We have maximum number of OPD patients as compared to other departments of the hospital. Our department works round the clock. There is no such guideline that only gynaecologists can examine sexual assault victims. We have informed the Senior Medical Officer and the Civil Surgeon about this, but nothing has been done,” they say.

Besides, women specialists of other wings of the hospital claim that they have been looking after medico legal cases besides performing routine and emergency duties. They allege that normal deliveries were done by staff nurses while gynaecologists did come to hospital after duty hours, a charge denied by the gynaecologists.

When contacted, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Arun Sharma said, “The matter is being looked into. We make arrangements which are in the interest of the patients and the hospital. We allot duties depending upon the workload of the staff members and best available resources.”

Civil Surgeon Dr HS Ghai said the matter would be amicably sorted out soon.

The issue

Women specialists say they they have been looking after medico legal cases besides performing routine and emergency duties. They say that normal deliveries are conducted by staff nurses so gynaecologists should be directed to examine rape and sexual assault victims. Gynaecologists, however, maintain they are already overburdened with a high number of OPD patients.