Surgery Department of Rajindra Hospital alleges discrimination

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 14

Alleging discrimination, the Surgery Department of Government Rajindra Hospital said the authorities had been putting excessive burden of Covid duty on its staff.

Doctors of the department have already written to the Chief Minister in this regard.

In a letter to the Chief Minster, they alleged that the hospital administration — led by the Head of the Department (HoD) of Medicine and Chest and TB — had been discriminating against them while preparing the duty roster. Questioning the Medicine Department, they (surgery doctors) asked why all Covid patients were referred to their department and not to the Medicine and Chest Department.

A senior doctor of the Surgery Department said: “Doctors of the Surgery Department are performing duties at flu corners, emergency and isolation wards, while doctors of the Medicine and Chest Department are being spared. We are mentally and physically exhausted.”

A second-year junior resident of the Surgery Department said: “We have contacted the authorities regarding our grievances. However, they threatened us of an action under the Epidemic Act. We want the head of the Surgery Department to be in the core committee, which prepares the duty rooster.”

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities claimed that a majority of the patients were asymptomatic, therefore, they were assigned to the Surgery Department. The Medical Superintendent, Dr Paras Pandove, said the Surgery Department was creating unnecessary ruckus. “I will talk to doctors of the Surgery Department. If need be, we will take action against them because everyone has to perform Covid duties.”