PATIENTS ARE HARRIED LOT AS OPD CLOSED

PATIENTS ARE HARRIED LOT AS OPD CLOSED

24-JULY-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA--------------------------Doctors at the Kudra Community Health Centre in the district boycotted OPD services on Wednesday, July 22, following a call by the Bihar Health Services Association. With the OPD remaining completely closed from 10 AM onwards, patients arriving from far-flung areas for treatment faced significant hardship. However, emergency services at the hospital continued to operate as usual, and the treatment of critically ill patients went on uninterrupted.

Unaware of the OPD closure, a large number of patients arrived at the hospital but had to return without treatment as registration slips were not being issued. This led to an atmosphere of disappointment and dissatisfaction among the patients and their attendants within the hospital premises.

Subhash Sharma, a resident of Mewada village, stated that he needed to get a rabies vaccination following a dog bite. He arrived at the hospital on time but did not receive the injection because the OPD registration slip could not be issued. Hospital staff stated that OPD services are suspended today due to the doctors' strike.

Meanwhile, Ravita Devi from Mokaram village mentioned that she had come to consult a gynecologist, but because the OPD was closed, she could not get a registration slip and had to return without receiving treatment.

Dr. Puja Kumari, who is on duty in the emergency department, explained that following a call by the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA), doctors have boycotted only OPD services; emergency services remain operational to ensure that critically ill patients do not face any inconvenience.

She noted that incidents of assault against doctors have been steadily rising across various parts of the state recently. An assault on the Civil Surgeon of Arwal a few days ago has instilled a sense of insecurity among the medical community. She stated that while doctors consistently serve patients, no concrete steps are being taken to ensure their safety. The one-day OPD boycott has been organized to press for this demand.

Doctors maintain that such protests may continue until effective laws and security measures are put in place to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, patients have urged the government to resolve the doctors' grievances promptly so that healthcare services for the general public are not disrupted.