HELPING - MEDICAL PROFESSION  & MEDICOS---?

On 21/7/14 there appeared an article in TOI by one Dipankar Gupta under the caption “Where Doctors fear to tread.” In this write up, he has pointed out some glaring deficiencies  of this Nation’s Pioneer Medical Institution i.e. AIIMS in Delhi as well as its working. Some of the issues raised by Mr. Gupta  are-(1)- Now the Govt. in the latest budget has proposed at least four more AIIMS in the Country  in the near future.  But he is of the opinion that before going for more such ones, it may be good to TIDY up the existing one in Delhi itself. Mr. Gupta informs that after its start in 1950, it worked very well and was providing best of Medical Science to the poor and the Rich alike. Mr. Gupta further observes that though still this is the Premier  Medical College in this Country, but  most those qualifying from here wish not to serve here it self, and rather more than half leave the Country and settle down abroad on permanent basis, AND MANY OTHERS PREFER TO JOIN JOBS IN Private sector for better rumenration and facilities. He observes that-(2)-  about 7000 sick persons daily visit its OPD, wishing to be treated and many a times forced to wait in the open hoping to be attended by the Doctor. Mr. Gupta  says-(3)-   pay and working conditions there are not good enough to enthuse the Doctors to give more time in the Hospital.  The writer also feels that –(4) – When some one with a Business Degree, which is really a short stroke  compared to Medical one, EARNS & LIVES ways better than an AIIMS Doctor, it is time to worry. Mr. Gupta also estimates that by 2020 India may need roughly 4 lakh more Doctors.

Some of the issues raised by  Mr. Dipankar are being discussed here after by an old man in general terms  and on basis of all that may take care of interest of the MEDICAL Profession and Medicos. -(a)- About his opinion  that before going for still more ,we may do good to first of all TIDY UP  Delhi’s AIIMS . In this connection the feeling is that with many fold increase in Population since the year (when AIIMS in Delhi was started), the existing one at Delhi will by no means be able to cope up with the Pressure / RUSH. Then Ailments too have increased many folds with UNSYSTEMATIC LIFE STYLE, LIVING IN  FLATS/DINGY HOUSES  where in general Fresh air is scanty/use of chemical fertilizers  and Pesticides  in huge quantity /lots of Adulterations in many eatables including vegetables and fruits  added with pollutions of all types and all through, lack of PHYSICAL WORK AND EXERCISES INCLUDING USE OF BYCYCLES from children to the youth, job and Societal tensions ,excessive consumerism, eating lots of stale and  food items  kept fresh by use of preservatives and so on. So  only opening of still more AIIMS is very  essential and urgently needed. But then their locations must be such that people do not have to cover long distances to avail facility when ever needed. –(b)—On milking  the cow i.e AIIMS- Delhi for knowledge and studies ,most not wishing  to serve here as  the salaries here are too  MEAGRE  compared to what they can get in Private Sector. Very true. MBBS degrees presently do not get much recognition, so most have to go for Post Graduation. In the whole of this process ,they spend minimum  8/9 years . Plus huge money funded by parents or by Bank loans. Time and money spent on education by a Medical Post Graduate is much more than those of an Engineer / MBA or such other ones, who are able to  settle in job/profession /life  compared to the  Medical Professionals,  who may not be able to be so  earlier to 27/28 years of age. So need is to ensure that, Medical education being mostly service oriented, should be made least expensive. They should be ensured better Pay Packets—plus larger service  SPAN extendable up to minimum of 65 years or still more for those who are considered  physically and mentally fit and alert .This is understood that presently Doctors in Govt. Service are retired on attaining an age of about 58 or 60 years, really a great injustice to the profession. Going by the General rules ,those doing mental work ( which Doctors perform )  add knowledge and experience with the passage of time. So this opportunity coming handy need not be lost in the Rules made long time back. About the problem of many, after getting education on Medicines  from this Premier Institute ,wish not to serve here, many even leaving the Country or going for Private jobs  can be solved  first by improving  their  Service Conditions including HIGHER  and comparable PAY PACKETS. Then by taking pledge to serve here only, till needs of the institutions are not fulfilled. Only those in excess of Demands may be permitted to move to other hospitals that too with in the County till the time this Country’s needs are not  fulfilled.  About encouraging the Doctors to work long hours in the Hospital, can be done by providing them Residences in the Hospital compound itself. Some monetary benefits too can be considered for those whose dedication  and care of the patients may be  more easily  recognizable . Other wise too ,all in the Medical Profession  including in other Hospitals, their duty hours can be extended by at least  one hour daily so as to smoothen the systems all through.  –©-- The problems of Huge number of patients visiting OPD  on a single day ,can be best solved by extending OPD timings between 9 AM to 7PM . For that need may arise for still more Doctors, so that they work in shifts and OPD does  not  have to face RUSH  during the limited time as at present. This problem  can also be solved by limiting number of holidays  all through and  that too  only  on Restricted basis, so that work and services are available on regular basis and without break. On Sundays too ,Hospitals including the other ones all through in this country  can be kept open ,not only for Emergency ,but for all services. For the purpose rest can be provided on rotation basis. To cover up shortages of Doctors in the Country as a whole, the retired and competent ones including from abroad can be given INVITE. To cope up with Rush  at the specialty and big Hospitals including AIIMS  and even other Sarkari ones, every where from village ,District levels to the big ones in other big and Capital Cities ,need be upgraded in most possible aspects, so that patients are not made to run to wards big cities and big Hospitals ,seeking medical care and treatments and thus concentrating the RUSH at some selective places only. Services at the Private  Hospitals too need be made more affordable and Equally  HASSLE free, so that the patients and their wards have a choice and  do not have to make BEE LINE to the selected ones only , thus leaving too little and too less for the others, established all through. —(d)---Just now Private practice by the  Doctors of Govt. hospitals is treated as BANNED and unethical. So as to make services available more easily, some relaxations may be made  in this respect, also fixing and prominently  displaying  the  consultation fees  that can be charged  by those doing private  practice in spare time. This will give some monetary benefits to the Doctors as well as easy availability of Medical services. This may also help those in this profession to be still more committed and may not shun Sarkari hospitals including AIIMS.

In this very connection ,conditions as existing all through in other profession too are being taken up  as a passing reference. We are the SECOND  most populated Country in the world. But still we do not have sufficient numbers as Doctors. So only patients have to jostle with each other to get attention  of the Physicians, not only in Govt. Hospitals, but in the Privates as well, indicating total lack of planning at the stage of MAN POER PLACEMENTS  going by the needs of the Nation in the future. The MUSHROOMED Engineering Colleges produce Engineers in lacs  each year, though good percentage of these  remain unemployable . Those who get Employed ,wish not to work in Production units, and go for sales or services of Foreign made  Products. In other small to big  professions starting from artisans to teachers ,we have not created INNOVATIVE  and Committed workers. All this is due to lack of proper  education and planning. We are having PLANNING COMMISSION  for the last more than six decades . The question is what this WHITE ELEPHANT  has been producing and Planning all through. Hope for making  similar organization again , due  care and precautions shall be taken by this very active and appearing to be committed Govt, of Shri. Narendra Modi.

RD.AGARWAL