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Journalism of Courage
With no respite in sight from the sweltering heat and cases of dehydration and heatstroke being reported from across the city,migrant labourers from Bihar,Uttar Pradesh and Orissa claim they are being fleeced by local doctors.
It seems to have become a common practice to put patients on drip,thereby increasing the treatment cost,when an oral rehydration solution (ORS) would be equally helpful in curing dehydration. Talking to Newsline,daily wager Surinder Kumar said: I had fever and diarrhoea. I went to a doctor in my colony and he asked me to get admitted and said I would have to be put on drip. However,I continued to have fever the next day too and was injected again. I was charged Rs 650. This is not an isolated case,but several doctors in the city resort to similar practice.
Dr Narottam Dewan,president of the Indian Medical Association,Ludhiana,said: There are some doctors who do indulge in this practice. As per WHO recommendations,oral rehydration therapy is recommended in case of dehydration. The doctors who go for unwanted injection of IV fluid rather invade the patient and it may result in thrombophlebitis (infection in veins). Some patients also have this notion that they would feel stronger and better if put on a drip. However,they are unaware that ORS can be prepared by mixing 5 mg sugar and a pinch of salt in 100 ml water. As patients completely depend on doctors,such malpractices should be avoided.
Dr Dewan further said: Although we keep holding awareness camps for residents and migrants,but very few turn up. As far as doctors are concerned,we will call a meeting of all medical professionals and tell them to follow the WHO guidelines.
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