GUWAHATI, Dec 19 — That the much-trumpeted Government slogan of health for all by 2000 remains only in paper is evident from the functioning of the three medical colleges which betrays the sheer apathy of the Government towards the cause of the common people. Plagued by acute shortage of medicine, lack of casualty and emergency services, insufficient manpower, etc, the three medical colleges at Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar are a sad commentary on the overall health care system in the State. Laying bare the pathetic state of affairs in the medical colleges, the Federation of Junior Doctors Assam today told newsmen that not only were the patients being deprived of proper health care facilities in the colleges, but were also made to pay a good amount of money for things which should actually have been provided to them free of cost. From a piece of cotton to saline bottles to sophisticated machines — things are either not available or are out of order.
None of the hospitals has an effective system for disposing hospital waste while sanitary and sewage facilities have collapsed. Disposable syringes are just thrown away after use, leaving every possibility of those being used again. A severe shortage of medical, paramedical and nursing staff persists at all three medical colleges. The nurse-patient ratio which should be 1:3, is as low as 1:50 as many wards have just one nurse each. The Federation of Junior Doctors said unless the Government did something meaningful to ameliorate these problems, they will be boycotting all the services from 9 am on December 23, as part of their ongoing agitational programme.
Alleging that they have been getting a raw deal from the Government, the junior doctors also demanded implementation of the residency scheme, enhancement and regularisation of stipend besides an increase in thesis grant and book allowances. “Although some of the demands have been accepted in principle, implementation still remains far cry despite our repeated pleas to the Government,” they said, adding that “we are left with no other alternative but to go on stir.” Before the total boycott of services on December 23, they will resort to a partial boycott on December 19, 20, 21 and 22.