Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, July 22: As the COVID-19 cases are increasing in Kashmir doctors are demanding adequate security cover for them.
Earlier this week doctors at SMHS hospital had stopped work for a few hours after some of their colleagues were allegedly beaten up by the attendants. Since then doctors are feeling insecure.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “The influx of patients into the hospitals has increased manifolds. There is too much of load on the doctors and they are finding it very hard to cope-up with the crisis in absence of any specific medicine or vaccine to treat COVID.”
He said that there are reports that hospitals in Kashmir are facing shortage of beds, oxygen cylinders and ventilators. “These shortcomings have made the job of doctors and paramedical staff more difficult. Attendants have been alleging that doctors and paramedics don’t come close to the COVID patients and testing positive for virus has become a stigma. However, doctors are terming these allegations as baseless. “Many of us haven’t visited our homes. We have not met our children and parents,” said a doctor.
He said, “Despite working in a very difficult situation we are facing assaults and abuses. It’s really unfortunate and sad. People should understand that pandemic is at its peak and we are also human beings. To seek security for our protection is our right.”
The doctor said that they cannot be blamed for the lack of facilities in the hospital. “Since the outbreak of COVID we have been sounding alarms. Many of us had already predicted that COVID would witness its peak in July and our health facilities should be prepared to handle the crisis. We are gain reiterating that authorities should gear up and put more arrangements in place to handle the situation,” the doctor added.
It’s in place to mention here that recently Jammu and Kashmir administration had announced that more ventilators are being procured and the process in on to turn more hospitals into COVID care centres. “We are on the job and in coming days more facilities will be set up. The security in the hospitals has been beefed up to ensure that doctors don’t face any assaults or attacks. The government is working overtime to ensure that situation remains under control and patients get the best possible treatment,” said an official.
A senior doctor said that the government should identify a big place in Srinagar for COVID patients. “There are so many buildings which can be turned into COVID centres. We need space and equipment to manage the patients,” he added.
Besides equipment, doctors demand security to fight COVID-19
