GMERS Sola Medical College resident doctors stage protest demanding proper COVID facilities

Gujrat: More than 270 resident doctors and interns belonging to the Sola Medical College and Hospital of government medical education and research society (GMERS) observed a dharna outside the collectorate recently demanding proper COVID-19 facilities including special isolation facility for them.

Meanwhile, after the authorities had a talk with them and assured them of providing proper isolation facilities, they have called off the protest for the time being stating that if their demands are not fulfilled, as promised by the hospital management, they will continue to stage the protest.

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These doctors claimed that the interns and resident doctors who are serving in COVID facilities day and night were not given proper safety measures and in spite of their approaching the authority a couple of times, their requests are not attended.

Dr. Kishan Badrakhiya, the head of the interns told Ahmedabad mirror "we had informed the college and submitted a memorandum to the collector 3 days ago, but no action has been taken the even as more Healthcare workers at Sola are getting down with COVID-19. it is shameful that we have to beg with the collector for isolation in the middle of working for Healthcare of COVID-19 positive patients." 

They decided to stage the dharna after a shocking surge of COVID positive cases among the medical and paramedical staff of the hospital. According to the reports, almost thirty Medical and paramedical staff of the hospital where identified as covid positives. Among the COVID victims, there were 5 resident doctors, 6 interns, and nearly 8 nursing staff, reported a daily. In this scenario, several doctors have expressed their concerns about working in the hospital. The doctors also claimed that the five intern doctors have fully developed the symptoms of COVID, yet any isolation facility has been not initiated and they have been staying in the same hostel as the other intern doctors posing a great threat to the others.

According to the reports, there are about 150 intern doctor serving of which 120 have been assigned in COVID facilities. 

However, the authorities assured that they are making arrangements to ensure the safety of the medicos and doctors. Dr. Nitin Vora, dean at GMERS Sola, told TIE "We received a written representation on Saturday and a couple of days before that… they sought separate facilities for those on Covid-19 duty. As per the information I have, in the past couple of days, some 18 medical and paramedical staff tested positive although the superintendent would have the correct figures. This (the issue of separate accommodation) otherwise comes under the medical superintendent. Their demands have been noted and are being processed." 

Dr. Pina Soni, medical superintendent at the hospital also assured that "They already had hotel accommodation, I believe there was some additional requirement for which permission was required from GMERS dean Dr. Nitin Vora. It has now been arranged", reported a daily.

According to the media report, supervising the conditions Ahmedabad Collector KK Nirala said, "The government had made arrangements for resident doctors at a local hotel for their isolation. However, since interns also are given COVID duty, their demands are also legitimate. I've asked the dean and superintendent to take stock of the situation and bring a solution to their grievance."