Siliguri, Nov. 10: The North Bengal Medical College and Hospital has allowed six days of Kali Puja leave from today for doctors who had worked during Durga Puja.

Although the state government has declared six days of leave starting today, the rule does not apply to hospitals as it is an emergency service.

Generally, doctors of a particular department mutually decide and take leave so that the facility does not suffer. An application of leave is submitted to the head of the department concerned and the head of the institution is also informed.

The superintendent of NBMCH, Sabyasachi Das, said that this time, the arrangement was made in such a way that half of the total number of doctors were on duty at NBMCH during the festival days.

"We have arranged for leave during Kali Puja in such a way that only those who did not take leave for Durga Puja will be allowed to take it. Half of the total number of doctors had taken leave during Durga Puja and the remaining doctors who had worked that time will be on leave during Kali Puja. This way, we have ensured that treatment of patients is not hampered because of festivities," Das said.

Last year, the doctors at NBMCH were not allowed to take any leave during Durga Puja because of a proposed visit of a Medical Council of India team for inspection of infrastructure.

In most years, doctors at NBMCH would mutually work out an arrangement where half of the total physicians would be present at the hospital for the first part of the Durga Puja and the remaining doctors would work for the latter half.

NBMCH caters for patients from all the seven districts in north Bengal and also people from the neighbouring states, like Bihar.

On an average, around 1,000 people visit out patient departments of the hospital everyday for treatment.

There are 300-odd doctors and according to sources, around 150 of them were on leave during Durga Puja this time.

"Earlier, there was no such arrangement and most doctors wanted leave during the festivities. As a consequence, very few doctors were left to attend to the patients at the hospital. There used to be a crisis situation because there are more than 1,000 patients are admitted here at a given time," said a doctor at NBMCH.

"The leave arrangement is fair and this way, every one gets a chance to enjoy the festive days and there is no disruption (at the hospital). In the four days of festivities during the Durga Puja, around 150 doctors took leave this year. The remaining doctors have taken leave from the day of Kali Puja," the doctor added.