Maha: GMC Doctors turn away senior citizens, deny vaccine

Yavatmal: Doctors associated with the Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College have reportedly sent back senior citizens who had come for their vaccination dose in Yavatmal recently. 

The Times of India reports that the doctors told the senior citizens to come back with eleven eligible persons to get vaccinated. 

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However, many people who came there were simultaneously asked to go to private hospitals to get their vaccination dose, with many taking advantage of the situation caused by the doctors. 

Several complaints were received from the senior citizens regarding this, who alleged that they were denied vaccination not once or twice, but thrice and were sent back without vaccination. 

For instance, a person, Govind Patel's third attempt to get his vaccination reportedly proved futile. This is in contrast to what is written on the display board placed at the centre which states that free vaccines are to be provided to the senior citizens and health workers, and it was alleged that the opposite had happened. 

Patel told TOI, "I tried to contact Dr Gautam Khakse, HoD of community medicines, but his phone was switched off. I contacted Dr Baba Elke, HoD of medicine, who asked me to reach the centre at 1 pm. I reached the centre at 12.30 pm. The in-charge lady doctor asked me to come with 11 members. I again contacted Dr Elke who said that he would instruct the doctors at the centre. When there was no response, I tried to contact the dean who did not pay any heed. District collector Amol Yedge too did not take the call. I then contacted the RDC Lalitkumar denyWarhade who promised to do the needful. I waited but exactly at 1 pm, the nurse closed the door and all of them left."

Due to the lack of centres for senior citizens, the latter have to reportedly depend on the GMCs. 

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