35,000 patients from across state camp at city hosps, wait for doctors’ stir to end
Times of India | 14 August 2024
Kolkata: Thirty-five thousands patients — enduring pain and anguish — from far-away districts are camping in the city hospitals for four days now waiting for the protesting doctors to return to OPDs and treat their sufferings.
Mala Bose (74) from Cooch Behar was sitting outside the emergency building with his son and daughter-in-law seemingly in pain when TOI caught up with her.
“I have been suffering from a severe headache for two weeks now. This is my second visit to the hospital and I was asked to come on Monday to get the MRI done. But they said no MRI will be possible today and asked me to come again after a few days and then meet the doctor,” said Bose, who started camping at the hospital as she can’t go back to Cooch Behar and return in a few days.
Equally in pain was Prasenjit Paik (38) who complained of a stiff right hand following a neurological disorder on his right wrist.
Suspension of medical services drew flak from a section of citizens. Sadharan Nagarik Samaj put up posters outside R G Kar Hospital, demanding return of normal services immediately.
Like R G Kar, the agitation and suspension of work by junior doctors and interns also left in lurch indoor patients at other hospitals in the city as well. Ghatakpukur resident Saima Begum whose husband underwent a liver surgery at CNMC four days ago rued that the 45-year-old was complaining of discomfort but none was around to take care of him at the hospital.