STRIKING TRUTH OF THE STRIKING TRUTH OF THE STRIKESTRIKE
REALITY OF RESIDENT REALITY OF RESIDENT DOCTORS’ DAILY ROUTINE IN DOCTORS’ DAILY ROUTINE IN
THE MOST PROGRESSIVE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE STATE OF INDIASTATE OF INDIA
WHO IS RESIDENT DOCTORWHO IS RESIDENT DOCTOR One who has completed 10+2 & MBBS One who has completed 10+2 & MBBS
Degree after undergoing 5 & ½ yrs Degree after undergoing 5 & ½ yrs coursecourse
And pursues Post Graduation (PG) And pursues Post Graduation (PG) degree (M.D. or M.S.)degree (M.D. or M.S.)
Resident Doctor is atleast 25/26 years Resident Doctor is atleast 25/26 years of age at the start of the PG of age at the start of the PG
He/She resides in the Hospital & has to He/She resides in the Hospital & has to attend to Patients at any time of attend to Patients at any time of day/night.day/night.
Residency/Post Graduation/ Residency/Post Graduation/ SpecialisationSpecialisation
A rigorous 2/3yr course comprised almost entirely of A rigorous 2/3yr course comprised almost entirely of the care of hospitalized or clinic patients.the care of hospitalized or clinic patients.
Medical residency gives in-depth training within a Medical residency gives in-depth training within a specific branch of medicinespecific branch of medicine
Unlike a medical student, a resident can dramatically Unlike a medical student, a resident can dramatically affect patient care. affect patient care.
We are responsible for everything from interpreting We are responsible for everything from interpreting the daily nuances of blood chemistries to acting as the the daily nuances of blood chemistries to acting as the point person for patients' families, who often look to point person for patients' families, who often look to us for COMFORT AND ADVICE.us for COMFORT AND ADVICE.
In essence, we act as both patient advocate and In essence, we act as both patient advocate and micromanager.micromanager.
Work becomes increasingly relevant as the Work becomes increasingly relevant as the responsibility for patient welfare becomes more responsibility for patient welfare becomes more personal. personal.
We “ live in “ the hospital We “ live in “ the hospital 24 x 7 24 x 7 serving patients.serving patients.
Holidays are a meager 20 leaves per Holidays are a meager 20 leaves per year which not necessarily are availed year which not necessarily are availed by us. by us.
We have parents (retiring or retired) We have parents (retiring or retired) and spouses and children (if married ) and spouses and children (if married ) dependent on us for time and money.dependent on us for time and money.
And Alas! Today we have neither to And Alas! Today we have neither to give them. give them.
Neither are we left with any self Neither are we left with any self respect.respect.
The following will clearly outline our The following will clearly outline our routine, our living!!routine, our living!!
Our HostelsOur Hostels
Welcoming entrance!! We have a swimming pool (for rats n Welcoming entrance!! We have a swimming pool (for rats n worms of all kind) right outside-something to boast of ain’t it? worms of all kind) right outside-something to boast of ain’t it? Kindly notice our tiffins in the near proximity to the beautiful Kindly notice our tiffins in the near proximity to the beautiful
water bodywater body..
The Backyard!! Creepy creepers creeping The Backyard!! Creepy creepers creeping into our rooms!into our rooms!
Entrance to Residency!! (Pun intended)Entrance to Residency!! (Pun intended)
A Room of four! But Beds to a million A Room of four! But Beds to a million bedbugs!!bedbugs!!
You will want to hang yourself from this.. Just a look at it is You will want to hang yourself from this.. Just a look at it is enough. Also a perch to pigeons. We even provide ourselves enough. Also a perch to pigeons. We even provide ourselves as landing for their excreta. Such is the dedication to serve as landing for their excreta. Such is the dedication to serve
mankind and animalkind!!!mankind and animalkind!!!
Broken doors, collapsible walls; the only well formed Broken doors, collapsible walls; the only well formed structure in our rooms are the cobwebs!structure in our rooms are the cobwebs!
Yes! We would know it better than anyone.. (maybe perhaps Yes! We would know it better than anyone.. (maybe perhaps only psychiatry patients come a close second). But pray tell us only psychiatry patients come a close second). But pray tell us
how to get “SOUND SLEEP” with bed bugs & mosquitoes how to get “SOUND SLEEP” with bed bugs & mosquitoes galore?!?galore?!?
Floored by the flooring!! Yes we were too. (BTW this Floored by the flooring!! Yes we were too. (BTW this is a room of six!!)is a room of six!!)
No flooring?? No Mattresses No flooring?? No Mattresses either!either!
Utmost privacy is the dictum! Partition between six Utmost privacy is the dictum! Partition between six girls’ room & common corridor outside. Just leave girls’ room & common corridor outside. Just leave
nothing to imagination!!!!!nothing to imagination!!!!!
Makeshift table. Imported from the heap of Makeshift table. Imported from the heap of “bhangar” outside the hostel. Our only (T)rusted-“bhangar” outside the hostel. Our only (T)rusted-
hope!hope!
This embankment was built by a resident out of his own This embankment was built by a resident out of his own pocket to prevent the water from the toilets entering his room. pocket to prevent the water from the toilets entering his room.
(After six months of pleading with the administration to do (After six months of pleading with the administration to do something about it)something about it)
Speaking of toilets.. There is nothing to Speaking of toilets.. There is nothing to speak really…..speak really…..
……A picture says a thousand A picture says a thousand words!!!words!!!
(PLEASE FLUSH AFTER USE?!?! How!!!!????)(PLEASE FLUSH AFTER USE?!?! How!!!!????)
Hostel nahi yeh hai “kabootarkhana” ..Hostel nahi yeh hai “kabootarkhana” ..
Yeh hamara “Khana”!!Yeh hamara “Khana”!!
The Scenic View from the The Scenic View from the room!!room!!
Biomedical waste!! Just outside our living Biomedical waste!! Just outside our living areaarea
The truth! Fact! Many residents suffer from TB.. sometimes The truth! Fact! Many residents suffer from TB.. sometimes deadly TB that is multiple drug resistant i.e. which cannot be deadly TB that is multiple drug resistant i.e. which cannot be
treated by the standard 4-drug regimen. There have been treated by the standard 4-drug regimen. There have been SUICIDESSUICIDES committed by residents since they could not handle committed by residents since they could not handle
the stress of workload because of illness & needed to be the stress of workload because of illness & needed to be admitted for months together!! admitted for months together!!
Doctor’s Day!! If everyday of our life is like Doctor’s Day!! If everyday of our life is like this can you imagine why we are so rattled?this can you imagine why we are so rattled?
We work 24hrs at a time… sometimes We work 24hrs at a time… sometimes 30-40 hrs and more at a stretch before 30-40 hrs and more at a stretch before taking a taking a napnap as much. as much.
We do not have decent drinking water We do not have decent drinking water supply. Very limited number of water supply. Very limited number of water coolers or filters. Neither do we have coolers or filters. Neither do we have accessible coffee vending machines.accessible coffee vending machines.
If the cafeteria (mess) closes down at If the cafeteria (mess) closes down at night we are left with no option but to go night we are left with no option but to go empty stomach.empty stomach.
Our families depend on us.. Apart from Our families depend on us.. Apart from our patients we are responsible for them our patients we are responsible for them too. too.
•If we are asking for good living conditions, A better pay so as to put food on our families’ plates and provide certain facilities to them, IS IT WRONG???
•Our elected members want to know if we are students why do we have such demands?
•If We are “just” students then why do we work the entire hospital? And why does the hospital structure collapse if we so much as stop work for one day??
•Media claims we are negligent for going on strike. But pray tell us isn’t the govt. negligent about our basic needs?!??!
We ARE dedicated to our work. All we are asking for is dignity and
self respect. If you believe our demands are just
and are convinced of our plight.. Kindly forward this mail to as many people as you can.
Kindly help us forward our cause.
A healthy Doctor ,Healthier A healthy Doctor ,Healthier a patient makes!!a patient makes!!
