Patients return from Bir empty-handed

[cezene]

KATHMANDU, May 9 - While resident (post graduating) doctors at Bir Hospital have stopped attending patients, the absence of some other doctors on Wednesday caused visiting patients to return without service.
"I came from Janakpur for my throat check-up, but they (hospital officials) didn't issue a ticket saying there was no doctor," said Bhiva Neupane.

She said she came to Kathmandu after the health institutions in Janakpur could not solve her throat problem. "I heard this (Bir) hospital has a very good specialist, so I came here," Neupane, who was accompanied by her sister, said. She said she was asked to come tomorrow. "But I doubt if there will be any doctor tomorrow also," she said.

Resident doctors under the National Academy of Medical Science (NAMS) at the hospital didn't attend patients except at the emergency ward on Wednesday.

However, experts under government quota are supposed to examine ENT patients. The without-notice-absence of doctors, who are obliged to routinely visit the hospital, added to the woes of patients on wednesday.

Patients seeking gynecology service also returned on Wednesday as the Out Patient Department (OPD) said there is no doctor for gynecology problem. The 25 resident gynecology doctors in the hospital are protesting.

The 171 resident doctors at Bir hospital have been carrying out protest programs since last Sunday asking the hospital management to ensure adequate number of anesthetists and fulfill other necessary requirements for quality service.

Dr Gopesh Thakur, chairperson of Resident Association of NAMS, said resident doctors want additional government quota for anesthetists and other doctors.

Due to lack of an anesthetist (a doctor who makes patients unconscious prior to operation), none of the surgeons have been able to carry out surgery at the hospital. The hospital has not conducted any surgery for about three months. "We decided to take a strong stand as the existing government quota is not enough to provide service to patients," he said. At present, the hospital has quota for four anesthetists, of which only two are working.

Resident doctors had submitted written demands to the management a month ago. But the management didn't address their demands. As a result, they worked with black bands around their arms on Sunday. They stopped attending the OPD from Monday. And from today, they have stopped working at all the wards except at emergency. About 1000 patients visit the OPD in the hospital every day.

[de.malady]

all the concerned people in authority should resolve this issue asap; poor patients' suffering & life should not be below fuss of such kind..

[prit_1001]

it seems really shameful for the doctors that they have opted for profession where every patient comes to him/her with some hope in their eye about their problems but no one care for them.they are busy blaming each other and between this sufferer aer the common people .when will we people understand each other problems.this is really a great problem which is neede to be solved quickly.

[hydatidcyst]

Since NAMS is the national referral centre, the government should increase the number of consultants in Bir Hospital, which will benefit both the patients and the Residents there.

About the anaesthesiologists, if hospitals like Patan can do with Anaesthesia assistants, why is Bir not recruiting Anaesthesia assistants ?

Since NAMS is a teaching institute now, it should also be allowed to hire teaching faculty on its own.

[Ne_pal]

Who's the health minister? Its a shame we nepalese don't have any anaesthetists in the oldest and one of the largest hospital in Nepal. It is one of the busiest hospital in Nepal and overall its a teaching hospital now, so knowing that there are no anaesthetists there is not surprising but against the nature!!
In the meantime the so called country leaders are really very busy heading the country towards new direction and build the so called new nepal. Its like building "castle in air" . Imagine the health state of the country when the tertiary hospital like "Bir Hospital" doesn't have any anaesthetists.
Whatelse could the resident doctors do besides putting pressure on the overburdened government. I think we all doctors in nepal could cause a "coup" and take over everything!! Send everyone esp Prachanda, Girija, Madhav, Deuba, King and also the leaders of all small parties into EXILE and make them suffer and realise!! I would turn Singha durbar, Baluwataar and King's palace into a HOSPITAL so that at least we increase the no of hospitals and doctors too. What do u say frens??

[Walrus]

We should speak in support of the residents of NAMS.

Like hydatidcyst said, it is also a teaching institute where doctors who will be in charge tomorrow are being trained so NAMS should also invest some resources on it rather than just utilising whatever was there from before. They should hire teaching staffs also.

And, prit_1001, the demands are not irrational and the move was their last move. The doctors had expressed their dissatisfaction by other symbolic gestures too but that was not seen by the authority. Even now, the responsible authority is not so serious about fulfilling the demand. And this issue has caused great pain to the patients but why should doctors be hermit? What the 'students unions', 'worker unions' and so many other unions are doing has caused even more harm to not just a handful patients but to every innocent Nepalese and has pushed us back more than decade in development. Then, why do you raise your finger only at doctors who have demands for good of patients also.

[hydatidcyst]

Ya... Walrus is right and thanks buddy for supporting my view.

Prit_1001, I guess you need to do a little brain teasing about the issue. NAMS is first of all, the largest hospital, or rather the national referral centre in Nepal at present, so do you think that in absence of anaesthesiologists, the patients are getting good treatment? The residents at NAMS are in strike not only to fulfill their needs, but also for the benefit of the patients. If the quotas of the doctors are fulfilled, not only the residents will benefit, but more benefit will go to the patients in that they will receive treatment from good consultants.

The second thing as I have mentioned, NAMS is now a teaching institute. Think of a teaching institute without the teachers ! Scary, isn't it !!

I think the best solution would be firstly, the government of Nepal fill in the required number of doctors in the institute and secondly, allow NAMS to recruit part time or full time doctors on its own.

Remember friends, Bir Hospital is the eldest among the hospitals in Nepal and it's everyone's duty to keep the senior fit and up-to-date. Think of a poor person who comes from a remote area, he will be going to Bir and not the nursing homes. Therefore, the ongoing strike is for the people in the remote areas of Nepal also.

If Prachanda can claim the 10 year long janayuddha, taking 13000 + lives was for the benefit of Nepali and for a 'New Nepal', we can rename the ongoing strikes as for the benefit of the patients and for a 'New NAMS'

[prit_1001]

hi friends ,
whatever is the reason ,whoever you blame, whatever you do ultimately the sufferer are the common people

[hydatidcyst]

हुँदैन बिहान मिरमिरमा तारा झरेर नगए ......

[Walrus]

Thanks for reminding us what we have forgotten in high school.