MillenniumPost
Bengal

Normalcy returns at medical colleges across state

Kolkata: Normalcy was restored in all the medical colleges and hospitals in the state on Tuesday morning, as the outpatient departments (OPDs) and inpatient departments started functioning properly with the junior doctors back in service.

The junior doctors, who had been observing ceasework at various medical colleges in the state including the NRS Medical College and Hospital since June 11 demanding adequate security measures, lifted their agitation on Monday evening after their meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee bore fruitful results.

The prolonged ceasework by the junior doctors in various medical colleges had crippled the health services and thousands of patients were denied treatment at the OPDs. Even the patients requiring immediate attention at the emergency wards were deprived due the junior doctors' strike.

As the OPDs remained shut for the past one week, most of the medical colleges in the city and districts saw huge footfall on Tuesday morning. There were long queues outside OPDs at the city's medical colleges from early morning.

People who were visiting the medical colleges to consult doctors had to be disappointed in the past few days. So, many of these patients turned up at the OPDs, well ahead of the scheduled time of opening the counters. As the windows rolled up, the patients booked their tickets one by one on Tuesday.

There was higher police force deployment in all the medical colleges in the city and the districts as well than what was found in normal days.

The city police played an audio on the microphone at the police outpost of SSKM situated close to the emergency ward, to spread awareness among the patients to maintain proper atmosphere. In the audio appeal, the police urged the patients and their family members not to indulge in any kind of misdeeds.

It was also stated that under any circumstances, the doctors cannot be manhandled. If there is any such case, the matter would be dealt with strongly. The family members of the patients have also been requested to maintain law and order situation inside the hospital campus.

NRS Medical College and Hospital, which saw a complete shutdown of the OPDs, started normal operation from Tuesday with the striking junior doctors resuming service. There was enthusiasm reflected on the faces of the patients visiting the OPDs.

Pratik Dutta, a patient visiting NRS Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday, said: "There was no treatment at the hospital resulting in inconvenience for patients. We visited several times last week but treatment was denied due to doctors' strike. We are thankful to the state government and the Chief Minister for resolving the issue."

A large number of thalassemia patients turned up at the Hematology ward of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday, for blood transfusion. Many such patients faced difficulties in the last week due to the junior doctors' agitation. There were huge footfall of patients at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Midnapore Medical College and Hospital and Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital as well.

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