Govt to give overworked doctors, nurses a break

To Postpone Elective Surgeries

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.03.2020

The health department on Sunday decided to send ask at least a third of its workers – doctors, nurse and paramedics – in all medical college hospitals, other hospitals and clinics to stay at home for at least a week. All medical college hospitals and district hospitals have been asked to postpone elective surgeries, keep out-patient ward to the minimum,butcontinueemergency services and deliveries.

As Covid-19 cases see a climb and an increasing number of patients queue up outside the government hospitals with symptoms of flu and virus, the working hours of doctors has been steadily increasing. Many of them have been working gruelling shifts, sometimes without food and water.

While people stood on rooftops, balconies and clapped for medical professionals who have been fighting a fierce battle against the virus, several men in white coats were still in the intensive care units keeping a watch on patients who tested positive. Many others were screening patients or running tests. On Sunday, the health department decided it can’t continue.

“The idea is to ensure all our healthcare workers are not at risk. This means doctors can’t do private practice either. They must take adequate rest so they can return to work when there is a surge,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu. All health workers on leave will not be allowed to leave the city or town and may have to report to work as soon as they are called. “We may call them to do assist the government to interact with people who are in home quarantine,” he said.

Last week, a post-graduate medical student was asked to go on home quarantine, after he was exposed to a Covid-19 positive patients. This young doctor, officials said, did not show symptoms of the disease, but it was necessary to send him home because they did not want him to infect other healthcare workers or patients.

On Saturday, health minister C Vijayabaskar said he had seen many doctors working tirelessly with their masks and other safety gears in crowded airport, bus stops and railway stations. “All of them were happy to serve. But when I spoke to them I realised that they were working without food and water for hours,” he said.

Initially, the government decided that they would ask doctors to remain at home for 14-days – the incubation period of the virus. That plan, senior officials said was still not scrapped. “It will be decided by next weekend,” a senior official said.

Meanwhile, many private doctors and hospitals have also postponed elective surgeries and isolated beds for patients coming in with symptoms of Covid 19. Medical representatives have told been not to visit private hospitals till March 31.

TOUGH TASK: Many health professionals in the state have been working gruelling shifts, sometimes without food and water