Patients suffer due to winter holidays by doctors in Kashmir

Shrinagar: Expressing concern over allowing senior doctors to go on winter holidays en mass in the valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) said the number of heart attack and stroke patients doubles in winter. Due to which there is increased mortality among these patients due to non-availability of senior doctors in hospitals, DAK president Dr Nissar ul Hassan said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

He said come winter, senior doctors at Kashmir hospitals go for two-month- long winter holidays leaving patients to fend for themselves."Patients suffer immensely due to long winter holidays of doctors," he said.

"It is that time of the year again when senior doctors abandon their places of work to evade the harsh winter of the valley and go on sojourn within and outside the country," he said adding that every year, faculty at tertiary care hospitals go for two month winter vacation leaving patients in extremely difficult conditions.

"Out of 162 faculty members at S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital, half goes on vacation in January and the other half in February. At Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and its associated hospitals, the faculty strength of 234 suddenly falls to half in winter," he informed. Dr Nisar said as doctors go on leave, there is problem in conducting outpatient and inpatient services in hospitals. He said hundreds of patients, every day turn up at these hospitals from far-flung areas only to be told that their doctors are on leave. The DAK president said that planned surgeries are cancelled and procedures are further delayed "In the absence of senior doctors, hospitals are run by junior doctors who find it difficult to cope with rush of patients and are unable to handle complicated cases," Dr Nisar said.

He said winter brings more patients to hospitals and they are left uncared as doctors are on holidays. "The number of heart attack and stroke patients doubles in winter and there is increased mortality among these patients due to non- availability of senior doctors in hospitals," said Dr Nisar.

He said that absence of senior doctors from work is also responsible for increase in number of flu deaths, adding that senior doctors are in knowledge of this, but prefer holidays over patient care.Dr Nisar said despite huge inconvenience faced by public due to shortages of doctors in hospitals, they are allowed for a winter break.

"It is ironical that faculty of premier hospitals are allowed to leave en masses at a time when their services are needed most," he said.