By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Amid surge in covid cases and doctors strictly advising the authorities to ban gatherings and entry of people to tourist spots, the doctors from microbiology department of government medical college (GMC) Anantnag on Monday enjoyed picnic at Pahalgam leaving the department at the mercy of two technicians only.
The permission to the doctors and Para-medics of the department was interestingly granted by the principal of the medical college.
Sources said that at least twelve staff members of the department including all the doctors and Para-medics ahead of Ramadan (month of fasting) on Monday chose to enjoy picnic at Pahalgam without having any regard for the advises and suggestions of health experts to the people after the second wave of covid hit India.
The microbiology department of GMC takes care of diaganostic part of the hospital and as been carrying out RT-PCR for covid since the pandemic broke out.
A doctor posted in the hospital expressed surprise and shock over the doctors of the department chosing a picnic at a time hospitals are flooded with covid cases.
“One wonders how the head of the department and other senior doctors preferred picnic over duties that too amid major surge in covid cases. Their going to picnic puts a question mark on the credibility of doctors also as they have been asking people to stay home and avoid crowded places,” the doctor said.
Another doctor in the hospital said that the doctors had gone to picnic with the proper permission of the principal.
“Principal allowing around a dozen doctors and Para-medics go for picnic in times of pandemic is more than irony” the doctor said.
Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr Showkat Jeelani admitted that he had granted permission to the doctors to go to picnic but added that it was not any big issue.
“Yes i had given them permission. I dont think there is anything wrong in it,” Principal said.
Asked was it advisable for them to go to the crowded place amid rise in covid cases and who managed the department tasked to carry out RT-PCR during the day, principal said ,” The department is working during evening and night hours. They only collect samples during the day for which some people were available. Now they will process the samples during the night,”.
