Doctors’ protest : OPD services restricted in DK, Udupi, Nov 8

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru/Udupi, Nov 09 2019:  Private hospitals in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts saw OPD (out patient department) services disrupted due to the day-long protest call given by Indian Medical Association (IMA) on November 8, Friday.

 

Hospitals stopped  OPD services to express solidarity with the postgraduate students of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, who are protesting against the assault of their colleague by pro-Kannada activists at Minto Ophthalmic Hospital.

The district government hospitals— Wenlock and Lady Goschen hospitals in Mangaluru and at Ajjarakadu in Udupi functioned near normally. The closure of OPD services in private clinics and hospitals, forced patients to avail treatment at government hospitals in the district.

IMA Udupi district unit President Dr Umesh Bhat, who submitted a memorandum to chief minister through Udupi DC, said with the increase in assault cases, doctors were now fearing for their lives. Nearly, 50% of expert specialty doctors had decided to settle outside the country.

“Emergency services were attended in the hospitals though. OPD services were restricted case to case," the PRO (public relations officer) of a private hospital in Deralakatte said.

Majority of hospitals provided emergency and in-patient services, patients did not experience much inconvenience.

Dr Bhat sought security for doctors and stringent actions against the culprits who assault the doctors.

OPD services in Gandhi Hospital in Udupi and Kasturba hospital in Manipal remained open.

The management had requested doctors to attend to the work to prevent any inconvenience to patients and a very tolerant atmosphere prevailed generally.