Paediatrician skips private practice to volunteer in nCov hospital

VADODARA: Whenever the situation of Covid-19 hospitals is discussed, one frequently hears doctors, as well as administrators, say that one can create hospitalisation facilities, but it is becoming difficult to get manpower. Realising the difficulty, a city-based paediatrician having his private practice, has started volunteering at the GMERS Gotri Hospital to lend a helping had to the doctors there.
Dr Rahul Thanawala practices at Manjalpur and Akota in the city and is amongst the prominent paediatricians in the city. Last week, he decided to offer his services as a volunteer to any suitable government hospital in the city that is bearing the brunt of the pandemic and staff shortage. Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials coordinated with the hospital that too agreed.
“You can get beds, but not doctors. I realised that young doctors who have been working overtime may be finding it difficult to even take a break for a few minutes. I thought I could lend a helping hand that may be good enough to allow them a break,” Thanawala said.
Thanawala has been assigned duty in the newly erected dome in the hospital compound which the Quick Response Treatment Centre. From here patients are taken to other wards. Thanawala said that he went for duty every day for three hours from 3pm to 6pm. He discontinued his OPD in one of his clinics to do this.
“My family was concerned initially but understood when I told them that there were many like me who were exposed every day while treating Covid patients. I have had Covid once and have been vaccinated too. I take necessary precautions and stay away from my mother,” he said.
Thanawala pointed out that the work is hectic in government hospitals these days. “Government should encourage other doctors to volunteer like this. Even doctors should come forward with help. This will take away a lot of burden on the staffers working continuously in these hospitals,” he said.