Bandh keeps patients away from hospitals

Saturday’s bandh kept patients away from hospitals. Although most of the staff members including doctors and paramedics could make it to their workplaces, the patient flow was less than forty per cent, doctors said.

Ambulances were put to best use by the hospital heads. Almost all the hospitals arranged for picking and dropping the staff members who are dependent on public transport.

Meanwhile, the number of emergency calls made to Arogya Kavacha 108 ambulance service was 52 more than the number received on Friday. "We received 1,510 calls on Saturday, of which 1,383 calls were attended. This is as against the 1,331 calls attended on Friday," said a spokesperson for the emergency service.

Ambulances had a free way as the roads were deserted. According to the spokesperson, the ambulances were able to ferry patients to the nearest hospital in at least five minutes less than what they usually took.

Medical stores closed

Of the 30,000 medical stores in the State, nearly 22,000 including nearly 10,000 in Bengaluru remained closed on Saturday in support of the bandh.

However, this did not create a major problem for patients as drug counters in hospitals and nursing homes were open, according to D.A. Gundu, president of the Karnataka State Pharmacy Council.