L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Let there be no more Anupamas

In the background of teenaged Anupama’s avoidable tragic death at the PGIMER because of ‘medical negligence,’ there is a need to have a thorough relook at the hospital management. No doubt there is a huge rush at the institute of patients coming here from many states, both in the Emergency Ward and at the OPDs, still there is enough scope for giving better attention to patients with the existing infrastructure. 

The maintenance of communication among the doctor, the patient and his attendants regarding the health of the patient and the line of treatment is most important of all. Unfortunately many of the young Resident Doctors think that they are unaccountable to their patients.

Secondly patients can be categorised on the basis of the severity of their condition. In the OPDs, all patients are told to report early in the morning and are kept waiting for their turns till late in the evening. We can surely introduce some electronic token system along with LCD displays to guide the patients. The PGIMER is doing a yeoman’s service to humanity. Let no more Anupamas be sacrificed any more because of ‘medical negligence’.

TEJINDER SINGH KALRA, Mohali

Turncoats in politics The malady of 'Aya Rams, Gaya Rams' which used to be so endemic in Haryana politics has travelled to Punjab also. During the past few years, politics of the nation has become so vitiated that we have to think of ways to check this evil. A glaring example is that of Joginder Pal Jain of Moga. It is a sad comment on the Election Commission and the electorate of Moga. One unprincipled politician necessitated re-election in Moga even after regular elections were held. How is it that once you fight elections under the banner of one national party and within less than six months you defect to another party purely for your personal gain. This sort of bargaining in politics will one day prove to be an anathema to society and people in general. Only the Election Commission can check such defections in politics. The Election Commission should frame such rules that turncoats are not encouraged any more. Criminals and scoundrels are already entering politics and damaging the political system of the country. K. K. Khosla, Ludhiana

Shortage of docs

Apropos your editorial, "Rural posting or punishment?" (April 4, 2013). There is a general talk of shortage of MBBS doctors in the country, due to which people are deprived of quality healthcare services particularly in rural areas. The government has started many schemes to meet this challenge but the purpose is always defeated. Here the government seems to be lacking in vision. There is a huge cache of non-MBBS qualified doctors passing out in tens of thousands every year. They may be utilised with a little effort and after training. In spite of starting alternatives like BSc, short or long- term courses, they should be involved in the main health stream. The government can save a lot of resources this way.

NARESH DALAL, Jhajjar

II

Getting physicians to work where we need them, especially in rural areas, is a global challenge and it has to be handled immediately so that the population in the villages is not deprived of the basic health services. The sad story of healthcare in Punjab could be judged at the Community Health Centre, Makhu, in Ferozepur district. A big multi-specialty hospital here with a budget of more than Rs 5 crore is running with only one newly inducted lady doctor and there is no provision of residence for the doctor or staff working in the hospital. 

The posting of doctors in the rural areas can ease the burden on city hospitals where people from rural areas come even for minor ailments. 

At the same time, the compulsory rural service should come up with some additional benefits for doctors, such as higher stipends and reservation in postgraduate medical seats so that it is not seen as a punishment.  When will the rural people get qualitative treatment at government hospitals?

HARISH DIDO, Ferozepur

Anna Hazare’s rally

I attended  Anna Hazare’s Janatantra Morcha rally at the Gandhi Ground in Ambala Cantt on 4 April. There were about three to four hundred people. Anna Hazare arrived at about  1: 45 pm, in the midst of  volunteers raising the pitch of popular  slogan shouting. He was accompanied by Gen V K Singh (retd), Sufi Syed Gillani, and Santosh Bhartiya ( journalist).   Anna said that Jantantra Morcha would neither fight elections nor support any political party. It would also not field any candidate for the elections. His aim is to awaken the people and organise them to fight for their rights and justice.  He will fight corruption and build a new India.  

All this was fine. But, it was not clear how will they build a new India without controlling the law- making authority which is Parliament. Unless, he helps in sending the right people to Parliament or state Assemblies, how will he reform India? He has to either jump into the fray, like Kejriwal, or support a particular party, or at least help candidates of his choice to enter politics and win elections. Else, how will he make a major difference? Hazare and his team has to have a clear- cut actionable plan of turning his virtuous ideas into reality.

Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala  Cantt