Doctors in Health Services stayed away from patient care activities other than emergency services in government hospitals, on Friday, in response to a strike called by the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association.
While out-patient services at some smaller healthcare institutions were affected, in major hospitals such as the General Hospital and the Women and Children Hospital at Thycaud, contract doctors under NRHM and house surgeons took over the task of patient care.
A lot many patients came to know of the strike only when they saw the strike notices put up on the hospital walls.
Many doctors reported for work as usual and provided their services even though they did not sign the attendance registers.
Despite the strike call given by KGMOA, the majority of specialist doctors reported for duty. At the W & C Hospital, out of the 45-odd doctors, only 18 stayed away from work while the others were on duty.
The Superintendent of W & C Hospital, Usha Kumari, said all ante-natal cases were attended to. The hospital also performed C-sections and some minor surgeries as all anaesthesiologists were on duty.
At the GH also, the General Surgery and ENT surgical division performed cases. At the Peroorkada district hospital, however, surgeries were not performed.
A section of the doctors also expressed their dissent over the KGMOA’ s decision to intensify the agitation.
“There have been previous instances when doctors were transferred out either on administrative grounds or following some enquiry – instances when KGMOA should have raised its voice but did not. Some of us strongly feel that this strike is unnecessary,” a doctor said on condition of anonymity.
