Welcome move by TS government

The T S govt Health dept's move to increase the timings of O P at all govt hospitals is certainly welcome in view of the enormous rush of patients waiting at O P Counters to consult doctors both general and specialised.

The doctors have to spend at least little time in listening to patients, and advise medicines or investigations as the case demands.

Further if situation is bad the patient as well may be advised to get admitted for a detailed medical observation and treatment.

With the increasing trends to go to govt hospitals as the treatment at corporate hospitals is increasing shockingly day by day for the low and middle-class citizens especially, there is a general demand for increase in O P timings for the patients at govt hospitals.

Here one point I would like to appeal to the Doctors community is that most of them have acquired medical qualification at govt's subsidised fees structures during their college days.

It is now time for them to repay the same back to them by working extra-hours. Afterall, this is nothing but servicing community which was instrumental for their getting the present status with fame.

However the health dept should also be cautious as it is not the quantity that matters but it is only the quality of service rendered to patients which is important with all other resources such as adequate nursing staff , availability of medicines, availability of infrastructure and other facilities etc playing their role honestly and very promptly.

The dept and the state govt should provide sufficient no of doctors, nurses and other equipment etc to achieve the above goal promptly.

The doctors' association has rightly cautioned the govt that it may pose a problem in treating in-patients both new and old if O P timings are revised.

But I think if an doctor goes to rounds at around 8.30 - 9.00 am in seeing the in-patients along with the fresh nursing staff as per the shift system , it may take 2 hours to complete the rounds along with issuing instructions to the nurses.

The O P timings can therefore be fixed from 11 am to 2.30 or 3.00 noon. After lunch, the doctors can continue O P or may attend to minor major surgeries etc depending on the situation prevailing in each hospital.

All said, it is high time that doctors also increase their working hours to meet the tremendous rush at O P counters, and the govt has to provide increased perks, allowances etc to the medical fraternity which will certainly motivate them to an extent.

Opening/ inaugurating new hospitals is not a solution but revamping and aiding the existing hospitals is a paramount task of the hour by the state government.

Katuru Durga Prasad Rao, Hyderabad