Re: Discrimination by the Medical Officer of Kolkata Medical Collage

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: Discrimination by the Medical Officer of Kolkata Medical Collage

I think people disinterested are given the trainings as there is no

chance of refusing a training in govt machinary-this all those who

are familiar with the machine can understand.

I know even in the institutes of the stature of PGIMER people who

were not keen to take the job of looking after HIV patients were

thrust upon the responsibility. It is different matter that some

people after being thrust with the job try to justify and succeed too

buit you find the soul missing in the job they do. The ills are

1. Not to find right persons, otherwise why a SMO contracted for a

ARV center leaves the job at the first oppurtunity of getting another

job of his own speciality as can be seen often if you look into the

records of people manning such centres. I still can recall while

working as Deputy Medical Commisioner, Amritsar, when the then MD-

Punjab Health systems Corporation Punjab commented in ameeting that

HIV/ AIDS is not there in states like Punjab. Mind you it was not

long ago and it was when he was made incharge of the programme in the

state.

2. Even the medical community is not yet convinced about treating HIV

patients-majority of them are scared to operate upon such patients,

even when govt hospitals where ARV centres exist are forced to admit

such patients,just go and ask the attendants of such patients how are

they treated. I did quote some examples few months ago. The

attendents are asked to bring gloves, change drip them selves, do all

nursing care themselves, on the orunds only cursery glances are given

and they treated as untouchables. If the attendents try to make noice

ask for refferal etc than they are first made to sign a statement

that they were treated WELL.

3. So callled PLHA groups at many places are SACO backed groups and

have no thinking of their own. They are PLHA groups on paper.

The remedy is Medical fraternity should do an introspection. It is

them who need more training than anyone else. It should be a repeated

phenomenon and there should be compulsory duty/training in HIV wards

etc alongwith compulsory questions in all medical exams related to

HIV-may be MBBS or may be MD/MS level.

The trainers and people involved in the beginning which can be made

anytime, should only be those who are motivated without monitory

considerations and considerations of getting plum city postings.

Dr.Rakesh Bharti,

Amritsar

e-mail: <rakesh.bharti1@...>