Medical services in the government and private hospitals across the state capital were affected on Monday because of doctors’ strike. Patients in crisis were attended to, but those not-so-serious suffered both in out patient departments (OPDs) and indoors.

Be it a sprain suffered in a freak accident or chest pain, people’s cry for care went unheard. Balm was hard to come by for strike-struck patients.

Gods missing

Shot spot: Patna Medical College and Hospital

Patient: Schoolgirl Namita Singh (18)

Problem: Sprain in leg after being hit by a bike

A resident of Sabzibagh, Namita came to the hospital with her aunt Madhuri Singh (37) after meeting with an accident. Lying on a bed in general ward, she tried hard to control her tears because of unbearable pain. Madhuri was also on the verge of crying because she could not find any attendant or doctor for treating her niece.

“Her mother is out of town. So, I brought her to the hospital. She is in great pain but I cannot find any doctor or attendant. What will I do now? An employee of the hospital saw Namita and told me she was not an emergency patient, and doctors would only attend to those who need urgent medical assistance,” said Madhuri.

After repeated requests, an attendant of the hospital asked Madhuri to bring few injections and medicines from a shop around 150m away from the general ward. The woman ran, leaving Namita alone on the bed.

Namita told The Telegraph: “I was shocked to see doctors, considered gods, absent. I really do not know what made them go on strike. This should not happen.”

Where to go?

Shot spot: Nalanda Medical College and Hospital

Patient: Rajiv Kumar (45)

Problem: Fractured leg and hand in an accident few days back

Rajiv, a resident of Bakhtiyarpur, 50km east of Patna, could not find a doctor all day. Bearing unbearable pain, Rajiv asked: “Why the doctors are not available, what happened to them? I cannot bear the pain anymore. It is increasing with each passing moment. Can somebody tell me where should I go for treatment?”

His family members went looking for doctors, but returned empty-handed.

Come another day

Shot spot: Jeevak Heart Hospital and Research Institute

Patient: Mithilesh Ranjan (42)

Problem: Chest pain

Mithilesh came all the way from Gaya to see a doctor because he was suffering from chest pain for the past few days. “I came here to see a doctor. But the OPD is not functioning today (Monday) and I have been asked to come on Tuesday. I was unaware of the doctors’ strike. So were several others who returned from the OPD.”

Pleasant surprise

Shot spot: Akshat Seva Sadan, an orthopaedic centre

Patient: Sahil Manga (5)

Problem: Thigh surgery

Sahil from Sikkim was admitted to the hospital with a problem in her thigh, said his mother Phul Manya Thang.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Amulya Kumar Singh said: “The child’s right thigh was rotting from inside. I had to conduct a major surgery. I have to see this boy everyday to check if the wound is healing. Today (Monday) is no different.”

Dr Singh said: “I check at least 150 patients daily. But today (Monday) I have checked just seven patients requiring immediate attention. I know the strike is disappointing for patients. But we will suffer in future if we do not take the protest path.”

Tailpiece

The heat of the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA’s) strike against the Centre’s move to constitute National Commission of Human Resource for Health replacing Medical Council of India (MCI) for regulating the functioning of doctors was palpable in all other hospitals, including Magadh Nursing Home and Heart Hospital.

IMA vice-president Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said: “The strike was successful and it was important because the proposed commission will dissolve the MCI. In that case, the doctors will be virtually monitored by bureaucrats, which is not in the interest of the medical fraternity.”

Chief cardiac surgeon of Jeevak Heart Hospital and Research Institute Ajit Pradhan said it was important to support the strike. “Bureaucrats cannot decide what doctors should do. They are not professionals. Everybody opposes doctors but we are the only fraternity that does something for others.

Members of Indian Dental Association’s Bihar chapter also supported the strike.