5 Sion hosp resident doctors get TB
DNMUM247377 | 6/16/2012 | Author : Somita Pal | WC :363 | Mumbai
Mard demands quick action from admin before more contract disease
Five resident doctors of the LTMG hospital, Sion, including three from its medicine department, have contracted tuberculosis in the last six months. One of them has tested positive for multi-drug resistant TB; the culture tests of the rest are awaited. One of the three from the medicine department has been admitted in the ICU and is stable.
With high work pressure, poor eating habits, unhygienic residential quarters and lack of masks, resident doctors fear the numbers might just increase if authorities don't take some quick action.
Dr ND Moulick, head of the hospital's medicine department, said, "All three doctors have been put on therapy; their sputum has been sent for culture tests. They are doing well." Tal
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king about how they contracted the disease, Moulick said, "TB is quite rampant. Doctors contracting it has become common."
The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) at Sion hospital has been at loggerheads with the administration over the poor accommodation facilities given to them for the last few years. MARD wants the administration to treat this as a wake-up call and take quick steps before the rest get the disease.
"We work long hours with no proper time for sleeping and eating. We are not even provided necessary items, like mask etc, while treating patients. It's not surprising that five contracted TB," said a member of MARD, Sion hospital.
Dr Shivkumar Kolhe, general secretary, central MARD said, "Many times, resident doctors are hesitant to come forward and say they have got TB symptoms and take treatment because of the social stigma. However, the main factors are their pathetic working conditions in public hospitals. 15 resident doctors are forced to live in a room meant for two."
He added that erratic lifestyle, poor dietary habits, unhygienic living conditions and weak immune system lead to contracting the disease.
Presently, 500 resident doctors are living in 182 rooms, with seven to eight sharing a 10x10 feet room. "Rooms are cramped, and often, six juniors are packed in a space meant for three," said a resident doctor.
The doctors at Sion hospital have also demanded the shifting of DOTS centre, which is next to the poorly ventilated gynaecology and paediatric department.
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