Another 2 months restriction on examining patients outside by doctors; reactions pour in
বাইরে রোগী দেখায় নিষেধাজ্ঞা বাড়ল আরও ২ মাস, প্রতিক্রিয়া

August 9: The date of delivery of a 28-year-old pregnant mother was already prefixed in the mid of August, 2020. All these months, she has been extremely cautious and was under regular monitoring of a gynecologist. The family of this pregnant women also selected a private hospital in Silchar where the c-section delivery would be performed. But now due to a latest government notification, they are in great agony. Another senior citizen, all of a sudden developed some kidney related complexities. The family members of this 68-year-old ran from pillar to post to manage a specialist to get him examined. Such instances can be multiplied.

Infact, State Health and Family Welfare Department came out with a notification wherein it was stated that “all doctors, nursing staff, paramedical staff etc. in employment of the Health & Family Welfare Department are prohibited from indulging in private practice or working in any private sector clinical establishment for an initial period ending on 31-07-2020.” It was also stated that “A large number of COVID-19 cases have been detected which indicated the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community at large.” As such, “To contain the spread of COVID-19 infection, the Government in the Health & Family Welfare Department hereby extends the aforesaid prohibition of private practice for another period of 2 months ending on 30/09/2020.” The notification further stated that those violating this order will attract punishment.

This notification of the state government has become a major hurdle for the patients in Barak Valley. As per the available data, majority of the doctors who do private practice or visit private hospitals here are in employment of the Health & Family Welfare Department. As such, there has been a crisis of doctors. People with various ailments are scared to go to Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) on the apprehension of getting contaminated by coronavirus. Moreover, the doctors who in normal times used to treat them are now unavailable for any consultation.

The health sector of Barak Valley in general and Silchar in particular is not that robust as of Guwahati. Here majority of the doctors are employed in SMCH, SM Dev Civil Hospital or other government run health centres and model hospitals. Many of them though not involved in COVID duty but are unable to examine patients due to the restrictions imposed by the government. When way2barak spoke to some of the doctors of Silchar, they too expressed deep concern and on condition of anonymity said, “Now at times, we have become bound to provide tele-consultation in certain emergency cases. But this is a very risky process both for the doctors and the patients. There is every chance of error creeping in while examining patients through digital mode.” Even some patients with whom our team interacted also expressed similar apprehension of wrong judgement through tele-consultation.” A 50-year-old bank employee whose mother suddenly fell down in the bathroom and injured her hand faced similar problem when he consulted with a physician through a video call.

The issue has also got a wider dimension. While interacting with the owners of private hospitals in Silchar, they said that they had to refuse many patients on the ground that anybody seeking treatment in private hospitals shall have to produce COVID-19 negative certificate. Moreover, negative test report of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) cannot be considered. So that means, unless and until, a patient produces negative test report of RT-PCR Test, till then that patient cannot be given admission in private hospitals. Now, just by giving mere admission to a patient, the problem does not end. At present, no specialist doctors are available to examine and treat the patients in these private nursing homes as majority of the doctors are employees of Health and Family Welfare Department, who were barred by the state government to visit these facilities till 30 September. A somewhat solution to this problem is to engage the retired doctors of SMCH. But this also could not be done as all such doctors are above 65 years of age and the Covid protocol restricts them from venturing out.

At this critical juncture, the only beacon of hope seems to be Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH), which again is over burdened with an immense load of patients from the entire valley in almost all the departments. Moreover, the existing Covid ward at SMCH has roped in a good number of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff etc who are now not able to attend patients admitted at other departments. Almost a similar situation is prevailing at SM Dev Civil Hospital. Some model hospitals like Palonghat, Cibitabichiya has also been converted into COVID Care Centres. Existing nursing homes/ private hospitals are almost shut in the absence of doctors. So the patients (other than Covid) are now in a helpless situation.

From the economic aspect too, this issue has resulted in a great crisis. The existing private hospitals in the absence of patients are over burdened with a huge staff force working with them. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, people refrained from going to hospitals (be it private or govt) unless it is a situation of emergency. Moreover, from July till September, the situation has become more grim when the private hospitals remains deserted as no doctors are attending due to government restriction. In such a situation, paying salary to the large number of employees has become quite difficult. Most of the owners or management of the private hospitals while interacting with way2barak said that it has now become a herculean task to pay salary to this huge task force working under them. “When there is no income, how can we go on doing the expenditure for months together. Many of us now have become bound either to tell majority of our staff to go on leave without pay and/or to curtail their salary by atleast 20 to 25 percent. We can understand that this would result in great financial hardship to the staff, but the situation has become very tough now,” said a top management authority of a private hospital in Silchar.

Team way2barak then spoke to Silchar MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy on this issue. Expressing his views, Dr. Rajdeep Roy said he had already spoken regarding this notification issued by the State Health and Family Welfare Department with Himanta Biswa Sarma. Dr. Roy urged upon the minister that this notification needs to be re-looked. Dr. Roy said that he has communicated to the minister the fact that the circular will pose great problems to non-Covid patients in Tier-2 or Tier-3 towns. He informed that the Minister assured him that the problems highlighted will be considered.

He further informed that Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Anurag Goel was in Silchar when there were detailed discussion as regards Covid cases also. Mr. Goel has also gone for site verification of Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH). A new Covid block along with ICU is on the cards at SMCH, which will be decided in a day or two.

Dr. Rajdeep Roy finally also said, “Doctors who are working in Medical College, if they are willing to give only consultation services outside the government duty hours for non-Covid patients in any nursing home, then they are most welcome to do so. Under such circumstances, it will be my duty to ensure that no punitive actions are taken against these doctors.” So as of now, this assurance from the Member of Parliament seems to be the only ray of hope in the midst of enveloping darkness.