Ahmedabad doctors will be on ‘call’ this Diwali

Nearly 100 doctors will serve people of Ahmedabad and Surat during this festival of lights, Diwali, ensuring, that patients are cured of both serious as well as minor ailments.

According to members of Ahmedabad Family Physician's Association (AFPA), their voluntary services during Diwali commenced in 2010 and are now an annual affair.

According to member of AFPA, Dr Pragnesh Vachharajani, "Every year, during festive season, availability of doctors is a problem and often minor ailments turn serious. Hence last year, we commenced with this voluntary service, where we contacted city-based doctors and asked them for voluntary services. We attended to 70 calls in four days."

With an aim to cater to more patients, this year, Dr Vachharajani has also roped in doctors from Surat. "This year besides around 35 doctors from Ahmedabad, 65 doctors will cater to 'calls' in Surat. Each of these cities has been divided into five zones and doctors in charge of each zone have a ready list of available radiologist, pathologist, specialists and pharmacist with them."

AFPA also has its own website and is active on social networking websites, where people can check for their nearby doctors and call them for help. In addition, people can also contact doctors online.

Next year, depending on this year's success, AFPA intends to involve doctors from Vadodara and Rajkot as well.