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Mumbai doctors participate in peaceful strike; no impact on emergency services
As a part of the nationwide protest, hundreds of allopathy doctors went on a strike, whereas, all non-essential and non-Covid services from 6am to 6pm were withdrawn
Thousands of doctors in the state on Friday joined hands with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and participated in a peaceful protest against the Centre’s decision to allow specified streams of Ayurvedic doctors to perform general surgical procedures. However, the emergency services at hospitals were functional.
As a part of the nationwide protest, hundreds of allopathy doctors went on a strike, whereas, all non-essential and non-Covid services from 6am to 6pm were withdrawn. Many outpatient department (OPD) services, including elective services, were cancelled. However, IMA does not have the data about the total number of doctors who participated in the strike.
“Considering the protocols of the pandemic, we didn’t hold any public demonstrations. But we gathered at different spots in the state with posters,” said Dr Avinash Bhondwe, president, IMA, Maharashtra.
All emergency services including casualty, emergency room, critical care, intensive care units (ICU), Covid-19 care, emergency surgeries and labour rooms functioned normally.
Also, many doctors did not participate in the strike and continued with their OPDs. “At our hospital, all the OPDs were functional. None of the surgeries was cancelled due to the strike. Everything went as usual without any hurdle,” said Dr V Ravishankar, chief executive officer (CEO), Lilavati Hospital.
Similarly, at civic-run hospitals all non-emergency services were performed. “We are the factory and running the main machine of the healthcare system of the city. How can we close down our OPDs? We received around 2,000 patients on OPD and all were treated by doctors,” said Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean of BYL Nair Hospital.
As per a notification issued on November 20, the Central Council of Indian Medicine authorised Ayurvedic postgraduation in Shalyathanthra and Shalakyathanthra to perform 58 general surgical procedures. It includes general surgery, urology, surgical gastroenterology, ENT, ophthalmology and dental medicine among others.
“Just by giving some Sanskrit names, Ayurvedic doctors can’t perform surgical procedures. A doctor spends years to gain expertise before operating on any patient. Also, they need approval and registration with the Indian Medical Council. To raise among people about the issue, we decided to stop the non-Covid non-essential services on Friday,” said Dr Avinash Bhondwe, president of IMA, Maharashtra. “If an inexperienced doctor operates on a patient, it will be a risk to the patient’s life,” he added.
The IMA has called this aa ‘Mixopathy’ practice which can increase calamities, as per a statement released by the association on December 10.
