Doctors on cease-work ‘see’ patients via telecon, attend to 600 on first day
Times of India | 1 September 2024
Kolkata: On Saturday, a group of junior resident doctors at R G Kar were seen taking calls, including video calls, and writing down notes. No, they were not discussing how to take the agitation forward and jotting down the agenda. The doctors on cease-work were “seeing” their patients online.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) on Saturday launched ‘Abhaya Clinic’, a telemedicine service that allows patients to consult agitating doctors online.Even though they are staying away from hospital patient care, the clinic opened at 10 am and continued till 2 pm, the OPD hours in government hospitals. Close to 600 patients were consulted on day one.
“None of us want to stay away from patients because we are trained in patient care. But circumstances have forced us. So, we chose this alternative way of reaching out to patients. We are overwhelmed with the response from patients and are also happy at the same time after getting to talk to them,” said Riya Bera, a third-year gynaecology junior resident.
By around 9 am, a team of around 10 junior doctors had set up their work station inside the general lecture theatre at the administrative block of R G Kar Medical College. When the team was ready with prescription paper, with ‘Abhaya Clinic’ printed on it, and the handsets used for the online consultation, calls started coming in by 9.30 am.
“Calls from patients with issues including skin, fever, hypertension and diabetes kept pouring in. We did not expect this kind of response as WBJUF announced the service launch very late on Friday night. We are happy that we are reconnecting with patients in our own way despite the agitation,” said Aniket Mahata, a first-year PGT in anaesthesiology.
The medical team had doctors undergoing training in various specialities, including gynaecology, medicine, dermatology, general surgery. Two interns and house staffers also assisted the team. “Even the patients said they were with us in our demand for justice. We are expecting bigger patient turnout in the coming days,” said another PGT, who was part of the medical team.
The clinic will run daily between 10 am and 2 pm. WBJDF, an umbrella body with representatives from all medical colleges, will make a roster of doctor teams from other medical colleges who will also take charge in the clinic.
WBJDF is also holding outdoor ‘Abhaya Clinics’ on Sunday at various locations. This will have junior doctors tending to patients physically between 10 am and 2 pm. Locations of the camps are — RG Kar team at Kumartuli, MCH team at Esplanade, SSKM team at Ranu Chhaya Mancha, CNMC at gate 2 of the hospital, NRS team near gate 1, KPC team at 8B Bus Stand and ESI Joka at Behala.