Another doctor fell prey to tuberculosis (TB) at a municipal corporation-run hospital while on duty. But she has been refused the promised 20 per cent leave from the duration of her course due to bureaucratic apathy.
The 26-year-old doctor from anaesthesia department contracted TB in October this year while taking care of patients in KEM Hospital. Since then, she has been on unpaid leave for her treatment. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) had promised to sanction 20 per cent leave of the total duration of the course to doctors who contract TB on duty. This was in keeping with the demands posed by the medical students during a strike, under the leadership of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). But, the hospital seems to have gone back on its word.
The reason stated by KEM Hospital is that DMER has not yet sent the concerned letter to BMC-run colleges to follow the promised sanction.
“This is complete ignorance of the government to our demands. If doctors contract TB on duty, they should be provided paid leaves. It is basic ethics that should be followed,” said Dr Sagar Mundada, president of MARD.
During duty hours, doctors follow a hectic schedule that does not permit them to even eat or maintain a proper nutrition level. This makes it difficult for TB contracted doctors to recover properly, said doctors.
In the past three years, 12 doctors from KEM Hospital, 15 from Sion, 9 from Nair and 6 from JJ Hospital have contracted TB while on duty.
According to doctors, these unpaid leaves not only affect them economically but also academically. “When we are not given paid leaves, our academic tenure becomes longer as the doctor cannot appear for the examination and have to wait for the next one that extends their academic calendar,” added Dr Mundada.
However, talking to The Asian Age, the dean of KEM Hospital Dr Avinash Supe said that the concerned doctor has been provided help. “We have assisted her in all the ways to help her in recovery. We have also given her leaves. But she wants unpaid leaves and to approve that we need official notice from the DMER. Until, we get that we can’t do anything. She almost recovered and she also came to meet me,” said Dr Supe.
Despite repeated attempts, Pravin Shingare, director of DMER, did not receive calls from this correspondent.
