The Hindu : Front Page : Doctors on VIP duty; patients suffer in government hospitals

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Saturday, Dec 13, 2008
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Doctors on VIP duty; patients suffer in government hospitals

Afshan Yasmeen

Every time a bigwig arrives, doctors join the cavalcade

Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

Ordeal: A file picture of patients at the waiting lounge at Victoria Hospital in Bangalore. —

Bangalore: A resident of Kanakapura met with an accident recently and was admitted to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital here. Although he needs the immediate attention of an orthopaedic, he will have to wait for a few days as the specialist is away on VIP duty.

“Why should my husband suffer because of VIPs?” asks his agonised wife.

Although tests have been done, the decision on whether he needs a surgical procedure will be taken only after the orthopaedic surgeon returns from VIP duty.

So What is VIP duty? Every time a VIP visits the city officially, a retinue of government doctors has to accompany the cavalcade and be on call till the visit ends.

This particular doctor has been posted on VIP duty for the visit of Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who arrived in the city on Friday. Mr. Ansari will leave Bangalore on December 14, and the doctor is entitled to a day’s off after the duty. So, our patient will have to wait at least till December 16.

His is not the lone case. Every time a VIP comes to Bangalore, patients in Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Victoria Hospital bear the brunt of skewed schedules.

Although the heads of these hospitals ensure that patients are not put to hardship, treatment by specialists is delayed, forcing patients to make do with junior doctors.

While government protocol suggests that doctors from all State-run hospitals be deputed for VIP duty, it falls to Bowring to rise to the occasion although occasionally, doctors from Victoria Hospital too are deployed. “That is because Bowring is considered a VIP hospital and nearer to Vidhana Soudha. Although we have repeatedly urged the Government to either keep a separate squad for VIP duty or depute doctors from all hospitals, it has always been Bowring. We have no choice and have to abide by the rules,” hospital sources said.

Of the four ambulances and drivers in Bowring Hospital, three drivers and one ambulance are put on VIP duty. Each VIP visit requires a minimum of two batches to work in three shifts.

Each batch comprises three doctors (general physician, orthopaedic specialist and an anaesthetist), a nurse and an attender. This means each day of the VIP’s stay in the city requires nine doctors, three nurses, three drivers and three attenders.

The 686-bed hospital already has a shortage of doctors with just 97 on the rolls. There are only 10 anaesthetists and four drivers, far fewer than the required number.

The 764-bed Victoria Hospital has only 165 doctors, 10 anaesthetists and four drivers. With an average bed occupancy of 550, this hospital is also short-staffed.

Should the VIPs go to other regions of Karnataka, the same doctors have to accompany them.

“On several occasions, we are left without food and have to sleep in the ambulance during outstation visits. It is risky to go on VIP duty, and our job is at stake if something goes wrong,” said a doctor, who has done several VIP duties.

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