Karnataka: With no break for three months, doctors say they’re cracking up

BENGALURU: Doctors, officials and other government healthcare workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 battle are complaining of a burnout citing multiple reasons: working without weekly offs for over three months, delivering under pressure, reporting to multiple committees and unending public scrutiny.
On Monday, the Hassan branch of Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association shot off a letter to district in-charge minister K Gopalaiah, saying one of their colleagues suffered brain haemorrhage due to excessive workload.
“Dr CS Shivakiran, 48, a paediatrician deputed at the general hospital in Alur suffered brain haemorrhage on June 3 and is battling for life in a private hospital in Hassan. It’s not just one doctor. Medical officers and all employees of the health department have been working without break, ignoring their health and well-being. We request you to work out a system where doctors and others get some respite in batches...,” said the association.
In March, the health and family welfare department issued a circular instructing all employees to report to work on all Sundays and general holidays, given the Covid-19 situation. “It’s being followed even now. Leave is sanctioned only in case of medical emergencies, death of a family member or a wedding at home,” a district health officer told TOI.
“The passion with which some of us joined the health department way back in the 1990s now seems like a punishment. We are under major stress. Things have been complicated by farcical distribution of workload and responsibilities,” said a doctor in the department.
“Many nurses are facing depression, anxiety and acute stress. We have started online sessions for positive and productive empowerment; the first was held from June 3-7,” said Girijamba Devi, secretary, Trained Nurses Association, Karnataka. The association is conducting breathing and meditation exercises and happiness programmes for its Covid-19 warriors in association with the Art of Living. The nurses have christened their programme Positive Productive Empowerment (PPE), after the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) which they don at work.
Doctors and officials working in vulnerable areas, even outside hospital premises, and part of surveillance activities have also been advised to take hydroxychloroquine drug as a prophylaxis.
“Though we’re not in the Covid-19 ward now, we are seeing all kinds of cases every day at the hospital’s emergency ward. I am on prophylaxis but coronavirus concerns remain. The minute I enter home, I isolate myself and do not mingle with my children. It has been tough on our families too,” said a doctor working in a general hospital.
The government is yet to conduct stress-relief activities and counselling sessions for doctors and other healthcare staff. “Whenever we raise issues, bureaucrats cite one example: the situation in Karnataka is not as bad as that in Maharashtra and Delhi,” said a senior official.
Another issue contributing to the stress is that officials have to report to multiple bureaucrats. “Priorities have not been set straight in handling of Covid-19. A DHO is not only burdened with overlooking all cases, preventive care, overseeing institutional quarantine facilities and surveillance activities, but also updating various apps. How is it humanly possible to deliver the best on all grounds?” a DHO told TOI.