THE SURGICAL strike on black money holders certainly seems to be taking a toll on doctors in the city. Over the last few days, the doctors, especially cardiologists, have been on call through the weekend, attending to anxious calls and prescribing medication to calm down the patients. At Ruby Hall Clinic, Dr Purvez Grant, chief managing trustee and cardiologist, said that some of the people from the builders' community were very stressed. "We have been getting panic calls since the time of announcement and anxious patients have been complaining of chest pain and palpitation. However, there have been no alarming cases," said Grant. Watch What Else Is making News Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, cardiac surgeon with Jehangir hospital, said he has been receiving calls from patients over the weekend with problems related to anxiety, stress and palpitations. "Nothing to worry really, but they needed a lot of counselling," said Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, cardiac surgeon with Jehangir hospital. "The calls were mainly from people who have small scale businesses and deal with cash. They understand that demonetisation is a big step in weeding out black money but the shock that their cash was worthless led to anxious moments," said Jadhav. Dr Avinash Inamdar, cardiologist who has a diagnostic and treatment centre at Parihar chowk, Aundh, said he had to admit three persons over the weekend as they had high-stress levels. Even as hospitals and clinics have now started refusing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, chief medical director at Deenanath hospital, said that no patient has been turned down. If another fraternity is largely at work over the weekend it has been chartered accountants who have been trying to counsel their clients. While several CAs preferred anonymity, they admitted people were calling them to seek advice. Anil Lamba, a corporate finance trainer, said that people have been buying gold, silver but now there is a strict watch on jewellers too as their bill books are being stamped so that they do not have back-dated entries.
