SOS! Wenlock Hospital to the Rescue and Patients are Grateful & Happy

SOS! Wenlock Hospital to the Rescue and Patients are Grateful & Happy

“I was hoping that my mother won’t get sick today, but unfortunately she showed some symptoms due to her diabetes- and I had no other option than take her to Wenlock Hospital- and she was very happy the way the management and doctors treated there. I usually take her to a renowned Catholic hospital, but with this unnecessary strike called by the private doctors at private hospitals which has put many patients in hardship, I had to try Govt Wenlock Hospital- and while entering the hospital we were greeted by hospital superintendent Dr HR Rajeshwari Devi, and RMO Dr Julian Saldanha, who made all the arrangements for the proper treatment of my mother. The doctors and nurses were very courteous and caring, and my mother was overwhelmed with the service and treatment she got here- and she has very much decided to come for her future treatment at Wenlock. And the best part was that my mother’s treatment today was absolutely FREE” – Marian Fernandes, Mangaluru

Mangaluru: With over 45,000 private hospitals, diagnostic centres and clinics, including those in Mangaluru shut down shutters today, Friday 3 November against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Act. While inpatient services (that is, continued treatment for those who are in hospitals) and ambulance services not affected due to the strike, out-patient and diagnostics services in medical establishments are closed for the day, said the State unit of Indian Medical Association. All 177 branches of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had directed to ensure establishments of their members remain closed.

The anger of private doctors is against the Bill that will enable increased government regulation on private hospitals: including fixing of fees and cost of treatment, and a district-level grievance committee that can take action against erring hospitals. “And if the government does not address our concerns and demand even after today’s strike, we will escalate the strike once again on November 10,” had said H.N. Ravindra, president-elect of IMA. That means once again the patients have to bear the brunt of doctors strike next week also, if no accomplishment is made from today’s strike. Oh well!

In a press release sent to the media, President of the Nursing Homes & Hospital Management Association, Mangaluru, Yusuf Kumble said, “All hospitals across the state will remain closed for 24 hours from 6am on Friday. This is to protest the implementation of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act. The government has failed in providing quality healthcare at its hospitals and nearly 80% of the population relies on private institutions. They are trying to please people before the election by penalising the medical profession and hospitals,”. Voicing his reservations over the changes to the KPME Act, he has added, “Implementation of the amended act will prove fatal for all hospitals, doctors, paramedics and the public. This will eventually lead to hospitals and nursing homes shutting down. It will also reduce scope for research. I appeal to the public to support our strike. I request patients in the state to get treated at government hospitals and similarly those from Kerala should get treated there.”

But tit-for-tat, the government has taken all the measurements to handle the heath care needs of the patients in the wake of the private doctors strike. All government hospitals have been asked to prepare for an expected increase in patient load during the day of the strike. “We have directed all doctors and staff of district, taluk and primary health centres to be present to ensure that patients are not inconvenienced,” had said Ajay Seth, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare). In the meantime, the State government is “continuing” talks with the protesters to explain the government’s views on the amendments. But while private doctors have opposed the amendment, numerous activists and government medical associations have extended support to the Bill.

And one good news for the out-patients who couldn’t avail the services at private hospitals, Govt hospitals in Mangaluru, including Wenlock Hospital have come to their rescue and are ready to handle additional pressure. Patients in the city were seen crowded at the 126-year-old Wenlock Hospital for emergencies and OP treatments. As per the clerk at Wenlock Hospital, the registration of the patients today was thrice more than the other days- and that all arrangements had been made with extra medical personnel to handle the mass.

The hospital superintendent Dr HR Rajeshwari Devi speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “As per the government’s orders we have requested all the doctors and other personnel here to not take a holiday on Friday. According to a government circular, we have been asked to function to our full capacity. It has also mandated that every staff member not take a holiday. At Wenlock Hospital, we have 18 specialists and other supporting staff and are fully prepared to handle emergencies. I have directed all branches including outpatient, inpatient, ICUs, laboratories and pharmacies to be alert and attend to all patients. Since we have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kasturba Medical Centre (KMC) hospital, and I have asked the authorities there to continue emergency services without interruption on Friday”.

Also speaking to Team Mangalorean, Dr Julian Saldanha, the RMO at Wenlock said, ” On an average, the hospital receives around 1,000 patients in the outpatient facility, but today the numbers have increased twice or three times more until noon. But patients don’t have to worry- it could take a little extra time to treat each one of them, but we will see that everyone gets the treatment irrespective of rich or poor. We are here to provide good health care to the patients, and we will keep our commitment, no matter what. We have an excellent team of doctors and experienced nurses and staff, who are all ready to handle today’s patients, and we will do our best to provide the best treatment and service”.

According to District health officer (DHO) Dr Ramakrishna Rao, where he has stated that all 65 public health centres and four taluk hospitals in the district are all prepared. “It’s not possible to depute additional doctors since all private hospitals are supporting the call to strike work by the IMA. The health department has 46 specialists. 70 MBBS-qualified doctors, 159 nurses and 78 lab technicians at our PHCs and taluk hospitals. But we will see that no patient is turned back without getting treatment at any one of these facilities, that’s our promise,” had said Dr Rao.

Suresh Kumar, a patient of a Private hospital after getting treated for his broken arm speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” I thought I could manage until tomorrow, but the pain was terrible. I had no option than to visit Govt Wenlock Hospital- even though I had to wait on the queue for some time, but it was worth the wait. I was taken good care by the two doctors and a nurse, and they even offered me a drink, which you normally don’t get elsewhere. All this service for free, you can’t beat that deal. I will go back to Wenlock for my next check-up. My sincere thanks to everyone at Wenlock, who helped me when I needed care”.

Mary Mascarenhas, a professor at a well-known institution (an arthritis patient) speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” I had the same problem last time when the doctors went on a day’s strike, and once again I am put into all this inconvenience being a senior citizen. There is nothing wrong in getting treatment at Wenlock, but since I am used to the private hospital, it makes me little hesitant- but I am happy with the care at Wenlock today. Being so well educated, Why don’t these private doctors think before they plan on a strike. I support doctors demands because what the government has done is not right by introducing the Bill. But our “life savers” doctors should think of a better way to fight for their grievances, rather than putting their patients in hardship by observing a day’s strike. I doubt that they will accomplish anything from the one-day strike, other than hear the agony and curses of the sick and the dying”.

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