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Health check-ups mandatory for Maharashtra colleges following spike in incidence of diseases

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Resident doctors studying in state-run medical colleges will have to undergo mandatory health check-ups every six months. The move comes after a rise in the incidence of resident doctors contracting infectious diseases like TB, Dengue and Malaria. There are 3,500 resident doctors across Maharashtra working at civic and state-run hospitals.

Recently, Directorate of Medical education and Research (DMER) a body that monitors all state run medical colleges across Maharashtra sent directives to all medical colleges stating that it is mandatory for all colleges to have health check-ups of all its resident doctors every six months.

Dr Ravikant Singh, President, Doctors for You, a NGO that works for doctors' rights says, "Resident doctors are the backbone of a hospital as all patients who come to the hospital are referred to them first. I think keeping the hospital campus hygienic is an important aspect which is neglected in most hospitals, and this may be one of the reasons doctors contract infection. Hospital authorities should instruct the sanitation department, to do regular cleaning of the resident doctor's hostel."

Two months ago, 25-year-old Sumedh Pazare, a resident doctor at the BYL Nair Hospital, died after suffering from dengue. Every year, more than 70-80 resident doctors from across the state suffer from some infectious diseases like TB, dengue and malaria.

"It is an alarming situation where a number of resident doctors are suffering from serious illnesses. We have already asked the medical colleges to organise mandatory medical check-ups. It is very unfortunate, but we are taking precautionary measures. Before they join, there is a medical check-up for every individual," said, Dr Pravin Shingare, director, DMER.

"Last time after a Nair hospital resident died due to dengue, we asked colleges to organise a sensitisation workshop for the doctors to cope with the workload. Through this workshop, college authorities will inform them about good eating habits while they are on duty," he added.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Deshmukh, Additional Municipal Commissioner said, "We are looking in to this matter and soon we will come up with a resident-doctors-friendly-policy regarding their health issues."

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