Longer waits for OPD visitors as Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors call strike

Long wait times for patients attending outpatient departments of civic-run hospitals were caused by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors strike, which was called off on Tuesday after assurances from Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan. The BMC asked department heads and senior physicians to take care of the patients in an effort to bridge the gap. The agitated doctors were prevented from speaking to the media by the police.

 

About 70–80 patients were waiting at the King Edward Memorial OPD in Parel. Because they had other obligations, some had arrived even before the OPD began, but their plans fell through. Similar events were observed in all hospitals under civic control. As there were no doctors in the OPD after a particular time, another patient at the BYL Nair hospital was forced to return for two days in a row. I arrived on Monday for a routine checkup, but I had to return because of the strike. Sameer Khan, who owns a mobile shop on Charni Road, claimed that the same incident occurred on Tuesday morning and that he was forced to return without consulting anyone.

 

A senior physician from Sion Hospital acknowledged that OPD patients had to wait for exams and stated that the added pressure on senior physicians was to blame. Before handling other departments, all of these doctors must complete rounds in their own departments. On Tuesday, I arrived at 7.30 am because I had to be at another job by 11 am. I had to wait two hours in the KEM Hospital OPD, although I was unaware of the strike that was taking place. "Monday, I went to the OPD at the BYL Nair Hospital for a checkup. I had to go back because of the strike. Tuesday morning saw the same incident.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @NewsWorldIN