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Articles: My Thoughts | ECG of a DOCTOR {Facts about the strike of Juniors Doctors in AP}
- Viplove K
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Dear Readers,
Many people may be aware that the medicos and junior doctors in Andhrapradesh are striking against govt. policies in giving much private medical colleges and hiking user charges in all govt hospitals, by G.O.90. To let people know why we strike, I am submitting this article. Interested readers also read the poem meDicOlamu mEmu published in this site in poetry section.
Anybody willing to know more details, please mail me.
I forgot to say, I am also a medico, so I know why we are striking.
Thanking You,
Viplove.
It is disgusting that the strike of junior doctors reached to 30 days and still many sections among the public are not much aware of the cause for which the medicos are fighting for. I came to know some of the opinions about this strike given by some teens, published in DC. The regular followers of news may be aware that the government is threatening the medical students by issuing warnings that the current academic year will be considered as 'zero year', which means no exam will be conducted for any medical student in this year. As a result, every medico will suffer the loss of an academic year which consequently results in loss of one attempt for PostGraduate entrance exam.
So what makes us still continue this strike inspite of we being made to live in hostel rooms which were made like 'bhooth bungalows' which are now deprived of electric and water supplies???
What makes us shout on the streets though we know that if we miss one academic year, our career and future may be on the streets.
Many sections of the general public are thinking that we are protesting only against privatisation of medical education. It is so sad that people are not completely aware of our intentions.
Our quest for knowledge in this field started with dissecting little animals like earthworms and frogs and after entering in to medical profession we began dissecting human corpses. We have seen sufferings and struggles of patients in various departments of hospitals.
We know the language, culture and lifestyle of the patients who come to the government hospitals. We speak in good english with lecturers and talk like a lay-man with patients. Many a times we have seen patients and relatives fearing of future as they are spending money for drugs at the cost of sacrificing meals.
I remember few instances when my colleagues advice an old, weak, anaemic patient to consume eggs and meat in diet for energy, the patient almost shouted, ' nee maaTalakO danDaM, biyyAniki lEdu naaku, maaMsaM ekkaDi nunchi techchEdi? '
{I don't have enough money to buy rice, how can I consume meat?? Don't give foolish advices}
With such experiences we realised our duty is only to learn how to diagnose disease and know how to cure it; nothing else should we suggest.
But the recent innovation brought by Government by G.O.M.S.90 is-to improve the medical services by cancelling free treatment in all Government hospitals. In the past in all govt. hospitals no medical service was charged. Since three years there was a nominal charge for each service. They are called 'User charges'. For example, an Outpatient ticket costs from 2 rupees to 5 rupees, X - ray costs from 10rs to 75rs { rates depending on the status of the hospital: whether it is in rural or urban area etc.}
Now because of the new Governmant Order crucial medical and surgical services like normal delivery, caesarian operations will be charged from rupees 150 to 400 rupees. And if a patient can't pay 600Rs to 1500Rs, he can't get any anaesthetic injected. And now all these prices are about hike to such an extent that a man who can hardly earn his meal everyday cannot afford those medical services. In short: no money no treatment. If you are rich go to private hospital,if you are from middle class family come to government hospital; if you are poor, just die.
Being a part of these government hospitals and wishing to work in government hospitals in future we cannot take it easy
when medical field is turning to money earning mechanism, without any human consideration. One of the prime causes for our strike is to prevent all these hikes in charges in Goverment hospitals, and if possible to bring back free services.
The other prime cause is to oppose the establishment of new private medical colleges which admit students based on money and not on merit. We worked hard, studied throughout the years, acquired knowledge, passed entrance and entered in to this medical feild. But the new private colleges which have many NRI seats will admit anyone who jussed pased +2 in Biology subject and able to pay 30lakh rupees of money. Is this the proper way to maintain the quality of education??
Apart from this, NRI reservation is going to be introduced in Postgraduate level too, which means merit students lose some seats. How far it is acceptable to give seats for the one who is rich than the one who is intelligent??
When we ask all these, the government commands that our duty is to study, become doctors, take stipends every month and be content with that. We wonder whether we are robots to be so machanically 'unhumanly' dutiful. We know about every cell and its lifecycle in a human body. We see births and deaths everyday. We know the value of tears. And we have our aching hearts. Unfortunately they are not stones. So we strike.
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