The number of inpatients at the State-run Krishnarajendra and Cheluvamba Hospitals, attached to the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI), has dropped marginally owing to shortage of doctors following their indefinite strike.
Only emergency cases were being admitted as inpatients. With the striking doctors boycotting emergency services, senior doctors and heads of departments from MMCRI had taken over the services, which till recently had been handled by the resident doctors.
The authorities have put off admission for patients with certain illnesses and surgeries that can wait.
A senior doctor told that delivery and paediatric-related cases at Cheluvamba Hospital are being attended to and patients whose medical condition does not require immediate admission or surgery are being requested to come after the strike.
Donated blood
Meanwhile, the resident doctors’ strike entered the fourth day on Thursday and some striking doctors donated blood at the K.R. Hospital’s blood bank to draw the attention of the State government. More than 150 doctors donated blood under the supervision of the Blood Bank Officer. Anudeep T.C., general secretary, Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD), told this correspondent that the striking doctors donated blood across the State to send a message to the patients that they were not against public service and had resorted to the strike unavoidably.
“We never wanted to cause inconvenience to patients, but our demands are not being considered by the government. With no other way out, we are striking,” he explained.
