This doctor treated 120 patients while students protested

The students’ indefinite strike has definitely hit Vanivilas Hospital hard. “Along with my faculty we have been running the show without their assistance and it is difficult,” says the doctor, who cured a five-year-old boy of Dengue shock and shifted him to the Pediatric ICU of the hospital.

“The hospital is suffering because of the strike and we need those 44 doctors for assistance,” says Dr Asha, who has witnessed twenty-five new patients in the hospital’s OPD and saw fifteen earlier patients for investigation.

Of these, six elderly patients were admitted. “Out of these six patients admitted, four were dengue cases,” informs Dr Asha.

The Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) have been protesting a hike in stipends of house surgeons, postgraduates and super-specialty resident doctors.

“Today, I was at the OPD from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and saw some twenty-five new patients and treated fifteen old patients for investigation, of which six were admitted.” Out of these six patients admitted, four were dengue cases,” informs Dr Asha.

The students have been promised a hike but it remained unclear until Wednesday. Speaking about the circumstances at which the hospital is functioning Dr Benkappa adds, “Basically we are designed to function minimalistically. And, right now we are able to manage emergencies. But we need those 44 hands who are on strike.”

At present, the hospital has twelve faculty managing the whole hospital. “There are four post-graduates who have been put on night duty. Also, now I have asked all the patients to be shifted to the ground floor and where the staff nurses can conduct constant monitoring,” adds Dr Asha. “The doctors are feeling fatigued because the inflow is huge and also there are fewer hands,” sums up the HOD.