MTH Hospital Junior doctors protest over water crisis
Indore: Junior doctors of Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar (MTH) Hospital, affiliated with MGM Medical College staged a protest against the water scarcity, which poses significant challenges for both patients and them.
The crisis has reached such alarming levels that doctors are unable to wash their hands after surgeries, increasing the risk of infections. The shortage has severely disrupted hospital operations. The lack of water has affected basic hospital functions, including the inability to flush toilets, causing them to become clogged.
The situation has prompted junior doctors to stage a protest at the Dean's office, demanding immediate action to resolve the issue.
The hospital currently receives a limited water supply that lasts for only about half an hour each day, which is grossly insufficient to meet the needs of both medical staff and patients. The situation has led to widespread discontent among the hospital staff. Junior doctors, in particular, have been vocal about the crisis, organizing a protest at the Dean's office to demand immediate corrective measures. They have warned that if the issue is not resolved promptly, they will go on strike, reports the Free Press Journal.
Doctors have limited water supply that is also for only half an hour. One of the agitating junior doctors described the situation, “We are forced to use spirit or sanitizers for hand hygiene before surgeries and there is no water to clean our hands during operations.” Dr. Anjali, a senior physician at MTH Hospital, expressed frustration over the dire conditions. "We had discussed the issue with the Dean, who assured them of a resolution soon and mentioned the imminent arrival of three water tankers," she said.
The water scarcity is equally troubling for patients, who are left without adequate drinking water and the means to maintain personal hygiene. Patients are suffering as they don't have access to drinking water and can't even use the toilets properly. The crisis is escalating to a public health emergency, with patients at risk of serious complications such as kidney failure due to the inability to urinate.
Stating that despite approaching the authorities multiple times, no step has been taken, Dr Zeba, secretary of the Junior Doctors’ Association added, “Our shifts last 24 to 36 hours, most of which we spend at the hospital. Due to the water shortage, we can't even wash our hands to eat. This problem has persisted for over a month and intensified in the past 15 days.”
