Doctors strike over sub-standard PPE kits
   Date :14-Apr-2021
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
Junior doctors observed strike to protest supply of sub standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and masks supplied to them after fifty percent of the on-duty doctors got infected with Corona virus during duty hours. Over 200 junior doctors observed strike at Hospital premises on Tuesday. Dr Indresh, president of Junior Doctors Association informed that junior doctors observed strike to call attention of hospital administration towards their demands of better PPE Kit, Masks, surgical gloves, etc. strike was observed in parking area. Junior doctors joined strike after discharging duties. Mostly the Out Patient Department (OPD) work was affected where due to Lock down numbers of patients are less as compared to normal days.
 

Doctors strike_1 &nb Junior doctors assemble at parking place during strike on Tuesday.
 
Junior Doctors Association members handed over a memorandum to Director Medical Education and informed that they would support only corona and emergency cases and other services will not be supported by them till demands are not fulfilled. If their demands are not fulfilled by April 15 they would go for total strike. From April 18 they would give up Covid duty which begins from 8 am onwards. Representatives have interaction with Director Medical Education, Dr R K Singh. Junior Doctors alleged that for long time they demanded quality PPE Kits, N095 face mask and quality gloves for their own safety and protection against the infection of virus during on duty. They alleged that the demands were made one year back which are still not fulfilled.
 
Junior doctors alleged that they are allowed to change PPE kit in small room where chances of infection could be more. They alleged that in web portal many beds are shown vacant due to non up gradation of information on regular basis due to which they had to face anger of patients who demand beds. Other demands of Junior doctors are to raise number of nursing staff, lab technician, ward boys, stretcher boys and numbers of sanitary workers, safety of doctors, and appointment of sufficient numbers of health workers in dedicated Covid centres. Hospital Superintendent Dr Vineet Jain informed that the quality of PPE kit and mask supplied to the Junior doctors are of good quality and same kits are used by senior doctors. He informed that junior doctors should maintain Covid protocol in other places also to avoid the Covid infections.