Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for ‘warning’ doctors and threatening city hospitals about admissions and tests of COVID-19 patients. The medical body also condemned the FIR filed against the authorities of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SRGH). The superspeciality hospital in the national capital has been charged with ‘violating rules for registering coronavirus tests’. The Delhi Government has also ordered SRGH to stop testing for COVID-19.
“Doctors who are serving the people of Delhi tirelessly from last two months in this pandemic crisis risking their lives feel insulted by the way they are being treated,” it said.
Delhi Government putting unnecessary pressure
According to the DMA, the Delhi Government is putting unnecessary pressure on doctors who are already overworked and overstressed.
“We strongly condemn this act of threatening and intimidating healthcare workers. Doctors of Delhi are already overworked & overstressed in this hour of pandemic crises and the state government is unnecessarily putting pressure on Health care Systems,” the medical body said.
ALSO READ | ‘Converting Superspeciality SRGH To COVID-19 Hospital Strategically Wrong’
It said that the instance of filing an FIR against a renowned hospital is highly demoralizing for the whole medical fraternity.
“Hospitals are the backbone of healthcare and are serving the patients COVID or non-COVID. They are being penalized and Govt instead of praising their efforts is Issuing new Dictates(FARMAN) daily,”
The development comes a day after Kejriwal warned of strong action against some private hospitals allegedly refusing admission to COVID-19 patients and involving in “black-marketing” of beds.
“DMA said that its 15,000 members are committed to serving the society for last more than 100 years and will continue to do in spite of all odds but the dignity of selflessly serving Doctors will not be Compromised.
The medical body has demanded a coordination committee of medical professionals and the Delhi government to look after all health care facilities and proper management of the corona crisis.
The other demands are – adequate testing facilities, smoother and timely patient transfers and cremations; and nodal officers for overall coordination of COVID-19 care.