New measures for student docs: BMC

A day after a 24-year-old intern at Lokmanya Tilak Medical College (LTMC) died of multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), the civic body has announced programmes to prevent the spread of TB among student doctors at medical colleges.

A day after a 24-year-old intern at Lokmanya Tilak Medical College (LTMC) died of multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), the civic body has announced programmes to prevent the spread of TB among student doctors at medical colleges.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to screen resident doctors for TB every quarter.

“Also, to prevent the spread of the disease, three senior doctors who are experts in TB management will sensitise resident doctors,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, BMC.

Dr Samidha Khandare was interning at the hospital when she contracted MDR-TB, said her relatives.

After prolonged hospitalisation, she died on Sunday.

Doctors from the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) said that at least 20 doctors from three medical colleges including KEM Hospital, Parel, and Nair Hospital, Mumbai Central, are undergoing anti-TB treatment.

“Overcrowding in hostels, lack of nutrition and improper food habits put us at the risk of developing infections. Also, we are on 24-hour duty and barely get time to eat. This also affects our immunity,” said Dr Santosh Wakchaure, president of MARD.

Doctors said the incidence of TB among healthcare providers is higher. “Doctors working in intensive care units are more susceptible to the disease than those working in wards,” said Dr Mini Khetrapal, Mumbai’s TB officer.