On Thursday, many resident doctors of SVP Hospital, which is run by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), went on protest at the entrance of the hospital after a resident doctor’s father apparently refused admission earlier in the day.

The resident doctor, whose father was tested COVID-19 positive was refused admission, had said that the hospital has resolved their issue, whereas a hospital source said there was an issue regarding the documentation of the patient. The patient was later admitted to SVP Hospital, following the resident doctors’ strike. The hospital’s superintendent did not respond to any calls or messages.

The hospital has put out a statement stating that today morning, several resident doctors of different departments had gathered and left their duties raising concerns on growing number of patient admissions and infection among doctors. They had made a representation to this effect. SVP Hospital management and senior doctors later took their issues seriously and had a discussion with the hospital and the matter was solved within half an hour. As per the resident doctors who spoke to the Indian Express said that there have been occurrences of extended infection in their peers. 72 resident doctors at SVP Hospital are assigned for COVID duty. Five of them tested positive for a second time after already being positive once in June. All male are between the age group of 25 - 28 years. Last week, several residents were tested positive and the prolonged effects of the infection are seen now. Resident doctors are kept isolated at hotels in Ahmedabad.

The resident doctor further said that as per the guideline, 7 days of COVID duty is to be followed by three days off and then 7 days of non-COVID duty. But it is not being followed and they are asked to work continuously, with duty hours exceeding 12 hours. There is a tremendous pressure as several senior doctors are infected and the patient load is increasing.

In the meantime, on Thursday, the Gujarat chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) made a representation to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and registered their strong protest against harassment of private doctors by collectorate officials in Gir Somnath, Botad, Jamnagar, Godhra, Gondal, Bhuj, Gandhidham and several other places.

The IMA representation said thatprivate doctors, in spite of serving COVID patients for the past six months are still being threatened and are spoken very harshly. They should be treated sympathetically. The IMA declared that 38 private practitioners have succumbed due to COVID-19 across Gujarat since the outbreak of this pandemic began in March. After Tamil Nadu (61) and Andhra Pradesh (14), Gujarat’s mortality of IMA practitioners is the 3rd highest in the country.

Source: The Indian Express