Strike effect: Denied at GMC & Mayo, patients line up at AIIMS

NAGPUR: Many patients who could not make it to the OPDs of the GMCH and Mayo hospital in Nagpur due to the strike of nursing and Class IV staff, rushed to AIIMS Nagpur where the daily OPD has seen near 15% jump in the last three days.
The daily OPD footfall at AIIMS which was around 2,000 patients rose to 2,400-odd on Tuesday, and 2,203 on Wednesday. The AIIMS authorities said that they are currently capable of handling the additional rush.
But, the condition of the hospitalized patients in the both GMCs was worrisome on Thursday. As elective surgeries cannot be done due to unavailability of nursing staff, many patients were sent back home without surgery.
Patients’ relatives were seen handling stretchers and cleaning the area around the bed in Mayo hospital. But, administration of both the hospitals claimed that they are managing with the help of nursing students from attached nursing colleges.
Official figures sought from both the medical college hospitals show significant decline in patients treated as well as admitted in the in-patient departments.
GMCH, where more than 3,500 patients are treated at any weekday, is treating around 2,000 patients from the last three days. Number of hospitalized patients in GMCH is 758, which is nearly half of the patients generally hospitalized here. In Mayo, 1,198 patients were treated on Wednesday. This number is also less than half of the routine footfall to this hospital.
Apart from the two GMCHs, patients faced problems at Daga Women’s hospital, Regional Mental Hospital, Government Ayruveda College and Hospital. More than 1,500 nurses and hundreds of Class III and Class IV workers and clerical staff are on strike here.
Daga hospital, where near 30 deliveries are conducted at any given day, was seen struggling to provide timely services to all expectant mothers. Though, authorities from Regional Mental Hospital claimed that everything was fine, sources said that inmates who require assistance of cleaners and caretakers were in trouble and their condition could be very serious if the strike continues.