Medical fraternity condemns govt’s decision to resume general OPDs

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 6

Although the Government of India has imposed a complete lockdown till April 15 and asked hospitals operate only emergency services, but many hospitals in the city have kept general OPDs opened against the order of the Centre.

The hospitals resumed OPD services after the state government decided to cancel the licenses of those private hospitals which have shut operations and were refusing to treat patients. The medical fraternity has raised concern over opening of general OPDs as it will dilute the purpose of lockdown.

All prominent city hospitals such as Civil Hospital, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), SPS Hospital, Fortis Hospital and Ludhiana Mediways are running their OPDs as usual.

Fresh orders issued by the state government read that OPDs are essential not only for patients suffering from various ailments but would also help in capturing suspected cases of Covid-19. Deputy Commissioners have been asked to hold meetings with Civil Surgeons, the Indian Medical Association and others to ensure that OPDs in all hospitals in the city and rural areas, including AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, are functional. But the orders do not mention anything about emergency or general OPDs.

Dr Deepak Parasher, former joint secretary, IMA, Punjab unit, said since the day lockdown was announced, doctors had been giving telephonic consultation. This step was taken keeping in mind that a person should not come to the hospital until he had a real emergency, he added. “This was done to ensure social distancing and prevention of spread of Covid. Even AIIMS, New Delhi, has closed its OPD services,” said Dr Parasher.

“The decision to close OPD services was taken to ensure that we do not land in the situation where Italy is, where all hospitals have been asked to deal with Covid patients only. If the state government wants to ignore the safety measures, we have no objection in opening OPD services, provided doctors of both government and private hospitals are provided free PPEs from the fund kept to fight the apndemic. It is of no use to send soldiers to fight a war without ammunition,” said Dr Prasher.

Dr Amarinder Singh Malhi, former president, Resident Doctors Association, AIIMS, New Delhi, said: “The reason behind closing OPD services was to maintain social distancing as OPDs are usually crowded with patients. There are higher chances of people, who might be suffering from any minor problem, can contract the disease from an infected person and spread the same among the community.”

Dr Malhi has also written to Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and the principal secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Anurag Agarwal, in this regard.

Dr Karamvir Goyal, member, Punjab Medical Council, said although general OPDs were being run by hospitals, but the flow of the patients was less. “Very few people are coming to hospitals and patients are being advised to consult over phones. All necessary precautions are taken for patients who are coming to hospitals,” he added.

Ludhiana IMA condemns statement on medical fraternity

The Ludhiana unit of the Indian Medical Association has condemned the statement of the Principal Secretary of Health, Punjab, that Ludhiana doctors were not performing their duties. The medical fraternity said the statement had hurt the community, especially because it comes at a time when doctors were working hard to serve patients by risking the lives of their staff members and families. Dr Sunil Katyal, president, Ludhiana unit of IMA, said private doctors were struggling with limited resources as no help had been provided by government agencies. Essentials such as PPE kits and N95 masks had not been provided to them even on payment basis as requested by the fraternity. Keeping in mind the limited movement of patients owing to the lockdown, the Ludhiana unit of the IMA came forward with the idea of providing medical advice at home by means of telemedicine and many private practitioners of the city have also volunteered for the benefit of society.

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