Doctors who are deputed at a dedicated COVID-19 hospital are demanding more facilities, such as furniture and entertainment centre, for themselves and the other nursing staff.

One of the doctors of Primary Health Center at Jagjivan Nagar said that they need proper furniture including chairs and tables, as well entertainment facilities such as a television. Besides this, they want a facility for warm water and freshly-cooked food at the hospital.

Another doctor who requested anonymity said that nursing staff also requires a proper restroom as they are facing a lot of problems. With proper facilities they can work with enthusiasm. Without furniture, they can’t take proper rest and working under the strenuous condition for almost 8 hours needs proper rest. Furthermore, they don’t get freshly-cooked food and milk that are very essential for them who are being regularly exposed to COVID patients. The hospital doesn’t have entertainment facilities like Television for relaxation for the medical workers.

Presently, six doctors are appointed for one week in the hospital and are allocated duty of two doctors in three shifts. After a week of duty, they are then sent to 14 days of quarantine after which they can again join back duty.

State president of IMA Dr A.K. Singh also said that they had raised the issue of lack of facilities in the hospital previously also when few demands were doen by the deputed doctors and consequently facilities were increased. At this time, due to fresh demands, they will forward the issue to Dhanbad deputy commissioner Amit Kumar.

The demands come a day after the state unit of Indian Medical Association has put forward their request of a home isolation facility for COVID positive doctors with mild symptoms or for asymptomatic ones and a cabin facility for infected doctors with moderate/severe symptoms.

Also, 26 journalists of Dhanbad admitted to the COVID hospital on 7th July, had also complained about the uncleanliness and poor quality of facilities such as food. Other patients of the COVID hospital had also complained of having insects in breakfast served to them.

The district administration then made improvements in the quality of food after the issue was raised by the journalists and BCCL appointed two managers for the maintenance of these facilities in the hospital.

Dhanbad sub-divisional officer Raj Maheshwaram said that they were not aware of the absence of these facilities for doctors as nobody had raised the issue earlier. They will immediately make required arrangements such as providing a television set and furniture for the doctors in the hospital.

Source: The Telegraph Online