Twitter
Advertisement

KEM resident doctor contacts TB, gets only 15 days' leave

Dr Sagar Mundada, president of Central MARD, said, "This comes at a time when resident doctors have been begging to give 2 months' leave for TB as that's the duration for the intensive phase of treatment with maximum side effects and maximum infection risk to other patients."

Latest News
article-main
Resident doctors’ quarters at KEM
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

A first-year resident doctor from KEM hospital was found to be positive for tuberculosis on Wednesday. The doctor from the anaesthesia department has been put on treatment. According to the Maharashtra Association Resident Doctors (MARD), the doctor has been given only 15 days leave.

Dr Sagar Mundada, president of Central MARD, said, "This comes at a time when resident doctors have been begging to give 2 months' leave for TB as that's the duration for the intensive phase of treatment with maximum side effects and maximum infection risk to other patients."

However, Dr Avinash Supe, dean of KEM Hospital, said, "I will grant two months' leave to the doctor, even more if needed. There will be no issues about that." He added that the resident doctor had joined last month and was diagnosed with broncho pneumonia during screening. "She may have contracted TB before joining KEM hospital," said Supe.

In past three years, 42 resident doctors have been treated for TB and one among them died.

Presently, around 15 resident doctors are on TB treatment. Two months' leave for TB treatment was one of the many demands for which MARD went on a two-day long strike. "It is unfortunate to note how many resident doctors will have to be victimised before our genuine demands will be agreed in the form of a government resolution," said Dr Mundada. He said that 20 per cent of doctors who have tested positive have multi-drug resistant TB.

MARD said that if the state government doesn't grant them fixed working hours, they will approach the human rights commisison. "We are now going to the human rights commission for this inhuman behaviour towards resident doctors. We are working for more than 24 hours without a single day leave," said MARD general secretary Dr Ayudh Magdum.

Dr Mundada said that Dr Supe is considerate but many others are not. "If government agrees to what we say, what's the problem in getting a government resolution. MCI has also given them power regarding the leave issue."
 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement