Srinagar, Oct 18: With junior doctors in Government Medical College Srinagar, its associated hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the Valley continuing their strike demanding pay hike, patient rush in the private hospitals here has increased manifold.
 “The patient rush to private hospitals has definitely increased nowadays. Even as this hospital is exclusively meant for bone aliments, we are receiving 20 per cent more patients than before. Other private hospitals have more rush,” said Shafeeq Ahmad, medical coordinator at Valley Orthocraft Hospital at Bishambar Nagar.
 “In all OPDs we are receiving around 25 patients more than usual per day,” he said.
 Manager of Ramzaan Hospital, Gogji Bagh, Ghulam Rasool Sofi said they were receiving 10 to 15 per cent more patients than their intake capacity.
 “We receive more patients from Lal Ded Hospital,” added Shahnawaz, receptionist at Ramzaan Hospital.
 The officials said the rush of patients may further increase if doctors in SKIMS too go on strike.
 “This time the rush of the patients has increased slightly, but it will increase further in coming days when doctors at SKIMS will also go for strike,” said Dr Ajaz Lone, medical coordinator, Khyber Hospital, Khayam.
 “Our hospital remains almost booked every time, so there is no effect of the strike. Our occupancy is as per the schedule; we have not seen any significant difference,” said Muzaffar Jan, proprietor, Modern Hospital, Raj Bagh.
 As the private hospitals make hay, patients say they have to suffer a lot because of the strike. “After nine months of consultation in LD Hospital, doctors there refused to see the patient at the time of labour today. Hence we had no option but to come to this hospital,” said Hameeda of Khrew, an attendant at Ramzaan Hospital.
 “The staff at LD Hospital admitted our patient at 7 AM, but when even after 4 hours no doctor turned up to look after her, we brought her here,” said another attendant, Rafiqa of Rainawari.
 Patients, however, said they preferred government hospitals for affordability. “In private hospital, you have to pay more, which we can’t afford. But then, we are helpless today,” said Hameeda.
 Ghulam Muhammad, a patient, said, “In government hospitals we have to pay only Rs 5 for consultation, here we generally have to pay Rs 100 to 200.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 IST