Kerala: Summer forces doctors out of cubicles

Malappuram: The scorching summer has proved too hot for the out-patient (OP) department at Government  Medical College in Manjeri.  The doctors, junior residents and house surgeons of the OP sections of surgery, general medicine, ortho, paediatrics and gynaecology departments  moved out of their clogged cubicles to the open space outside for  consultation on Tuesday. According to a doctor at the general medicine department, the doctors at the OP sections were suffering the unbearable heat inside the cubicles which are overcrowded with doctors and patients.   They had also asked the MCH administration to resolve the issue.

But as there was no response, the doctors  moved the consultation out to the hospital premises. Hundreds of patients who reached the MCH early in the morning were confused by the action.  Usually the OP begins at 8.30 a.m., but on Tuesday, the functioning of  the OP sections at various departments was delayed for two hours as doctors, nursing staff and security men were busy shifting the tables, chairs and other facilities to the makeshift OP.  Five departments,  including the busiest general medicine,  functioned outside. 

There was tension as some of the patients questioned the doctors’ unexpected move.   The OP ward at the MCH is reeling under shortage of space.   There are seven departments at the OP which is separated by cubicles. “Besides queued-up patients, seven doctors, two house surgeons and around 20 medical students at each department have to work in this  overcrowded space suffering intense  summer heat,” a doctor  told DC.