Sion Hospital's resident doctors cry foul over living conditions

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) have been complaining about the challenges that the resident doctors are facing due to lack of basic facilities at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion.

According to the data revealed by the association, the resident doctors, who tirelessly work at the hospital, are themselves suffering from illnesses. In a letter, written by the association to the dean of Sion Hospital, states that many resident doctors fall severely ill every year due to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, swine flu, dengue and malaria.

The data reveals that in 2016-17, around 15 resident doctors got infected with TB, two resident doctors were infected with MDR-TB, 19 got swine flu and seven were infected with dengue.

Speaking about the lack of facilities due to which they are suffering, a member of MARD on the condition of anonymity said, "Poor ventilation and inadequate hostel facility is contributing to this common occurrence. The health of doctors should also be taken into consideration. There is a leakage problem during the rainy season and the rooms in old Resident Medical Officers (RMO) buildings were renovated only six months ago."

After raising the issue with hospital authorities, the dean and other officials visited the RMO building on Saturday.