HUMANE DOCTORS COME FORWARD AS STRIKE CONTINUES

KANPUR, September 27: The indefinite strike called by the doctors turned even worse today as the patients kept on being turned away by the nursing homes and doctors. Some responsible doctors though did continue to work and treat those patients who were refused treatment by their own fraternity.

Arti Tiwari, wife of Pramod Tiwari, a resident of B block, Panki, was brought in severe labour pains to Merrygold Maternity Home in E block, Panki. The nurse on duty refused coldly to admit the patient saying that there was no lady doctor on duty though the doctor was inside the maternity home at the time. The husband and the mother-in-law of the patient implored the staff to admit the patient but to no avail. As the condition of the patient worsened, the relatives took her to Brij Medical Centre and Raja Ram Hospital, both of which simply refused to admit her saying that no private nursing home would admit her and that they should take her to Hallett.

            Hallett is 11 Km from Panki and the patient could not be taken so far given her continuously deteriorating condition. With no hope on the horizon, her relatives took her to Mahaveer Hospital near Panki railway station. Thankfully, Dr. Omkar Singh, in charge of the hospital was compassionate enough to admit the patient considering her condition. Arti was admitted immediately and given the much needed care at the hospital. The tribulations of the family turned into blithesome joy when she gave birth to a healthy baby boy about one hour after her admission to the hospital. Dr. Omkar Singh said that his hospital supported the strike but such cases should not be turned away by any doctor or nursing home.

Another case was that of a 4-year-old girl named Komal who was brought here today from Rania. She was having high fever and tremors. Her parents and relatives went to various hospitals with the child on their shoulder but were given a cold shoulder by every hospital in the area. Fortunately for them, Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Chaudhary, the doctor on duty at Shanti Medical Centre situated in the B block area of Panki. She was admitted and given treatment even though the hospital is supporting the strike. Her parents thanked the doctor for his kindness. Dr. Chaudhary said that the child was having cerebral malaria and was improving since the treatment started. He also told that he had done 31 OPDs for malaria alone during the day itself. He said, “Homeopathy and allopathy are good but sympathy is the best”. Let us hope that other striking doctors also follow these examples and the helpless patients are not made to suffer.