Docs oppose BMC plan to link hospitals

The RMOs in the main hospitals are wary of the execution of the plan and are considering moving court. “Our job description is not defined in the order issued by the BMC. This means that even if I have a speciality in a certain field,I might be doing the work of an ordinary doctor. This in turn will result in an absolute waste of our training and skills,” said Dr Maqsood Khan,ENT doctor at Sion Hospital. “In fact,the order states that the doctors ‘must satisfy the needs of VIPs and dignitaries’ which is a ridiculous statement to make,” added Khan.

The RMOs are also complaining about the lack of facilities and accommodation in the peripheral hospitals. “We have been trained to use the ultrasound,MRI and CT scan systems. However,most of the peripheral hospitals do not have any of these amenities which will result in rusting of our knowledge,” said an RMO from the Radiology Department of the KEM hospital.

The plan was detailed by the BMC in November 2010 with a view to decongest the tertiary hospitals and to boost the peripheral hospitals. Those who fail to sign the bond will be fined Rs 15 lakh (postgraduate doctors) and Rs 25 lakh (super specialty doctors).

A senior faculty member from the Sion Hospital feels this move might result in the derecognition of the already short staffed hospital. “As per the norms of the Medical Council of India (MCI),we need to have a minimum number of doctors in each department. If we send our doctors to other hospitals,we face a huge risk of being derecognised as per the MCI rules,” he said.

Dr R R Shinde,head of department of Preventive and Social Medicine in KEM Hospital,who is also in charge of implementing the move,feels this is a necessary challenge for the doctors. “The fact that they are opposing means that the virtue of selfless service has not been instilled deep enough. The load on the main hospitals is too much and there should be specialists in peripheral hospitals too,” said Shinde.