Barring Kalaburagi, where the protest was restricted to a march, out-patient services in private clinics and nursing homes in most districts of north Karnataka were affected on Friday in response to the call by the State unit Indian Medical Association (IMA) for an ‘OPD Bandh’ condemning the attack on doctors in Bengaluru.
Health officials ensured that all doctors were present to serve patients at government hospitals and medical colleges. Barring a few, the flow of outpatients remained normal in most districts. As private clinics and hospitals attended to emergencies, only those who had come to cities for consultations for minor ailments at private clinics had to return.
The doctors have since withdrawn the strike.
In Kalaburagi, led by IMA president Amul Patange, doctors wearing black ribbons on their shoulders took out a march to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum seeking action. On their decision not to close OPDs for a day, Mr. Patange said it was done in the interest of patients as there were more cases of dengue and other ailments. District surgeon Shivanand Surgali said all the emergency and non-essential medical services including OPDs functioned normally the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS). In Vijayapura, as private hospitals did not offer OPD services, many returned without treatment. Others chose to look for alternatives resulting in an increase in numbers at government hospitals.
In Dharwad and Hubballi, that ahve many private hospitals, OPDs did not function in most. However, few clinics on the outskirts offered services. Both the district civil hospital in Dharwad and Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and Hospital in Hubballi did not see an increase.
District surgeon S.K. Mankar said there was no additional rush. “We have made arrangements including calling back doctors who were on leave and deputing PG medical students. However, there was not much rush,” he said, and added that the strike had minimal impact as most big hospitals were functioning.
In Raichur and Yadgir districts, OPD services were not offered, affecting patients particularly from rural areas.
High turnout
The Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS) witnessed the highest out-patient registration. In the morning, doctors from private hospitals took out a march. In the evening, several private doctors were seen offering consultation.
