Pune: The more than week-long strike by resident doctors has taken a toll on patient care at Sassoon General Hospital , which caters to the medical needs of citizens from Pune and neighbouring districts. The 1,800-bedded facility currently has only 84 patients admitted for surgeries . Dr Yellapa Jadhav, medical superintendent of the hospital, said, "Currently, only 84 patients are admitted for surgeries — 30 in orthopaedics, 19 in general surgery, 14 in neurosurgery, and 16 in cardiovascular thoracic surgery departments.
Also, as of now, we do not have any patients admitted at ophthalmology, ENT, paediatric, gynaecology, and dental departments." On average, the hospital sees 48 major surgeries and 145 minor surgeries every day. However, over the past week, the number of major surgeries has fallen to 29, while minor surgeries have dropped to only 55.
An estimated 170 major and 800 minor surgeries have been postponed in the last one week. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors on August 13 declared to boycot all elective services across all medical colleges in the state in protest against the rape-murder of a second-year postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. While patients continue to suffer, the association is firm on continuing their strike demanding among others implementation of the Central Protection Act.
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