2 MORE PG DOCS AT OSMANIA TEST POSITIVE

Two more post-graduates doctors at the Osmania Medical College have tested positive for Covid19 and the results of another five PGs are awaited. On Friday, three PG doctors and an MBBS student had tested positive.

These PG doctors treat patients in the outpatient departments without pro-per personal protection equipment. Though they have masks and gloves, the positive cases among PG doctors show they need additional protection.

A junior doctor told this newspaper, “Two post-graduate gynaecologists were exposed in the government maternity home in Petlaburj. The test results of another two gynaecologist residents are awaited.”

“Three ENT specialists, a resident of the orthopaedic department and another in general surgery are also awaiting results,” the junior doctor said.

The PG students cannot go to Gandhi Hospital as it is a Covid-19 centre and all of them are attending duties at the Osmania General Hospital.

Another resident explained, “Personal protection equipment is being used in intensive care unit and while checking patients. But there is community spread and those who are coming to the out-patient departments are exposing all doctors to Covid19. We need more PPEs to protect ourselves.”

A senior resident said, “We are going to fund ourselves and look at options to procure PPEs apart from what the government provides us. A safety net is required till immunity develops, otherwise if residents fall sick there will be a major crunch in teaching hospitals.”

The junior doctors and residents appealed to the Vice-Chancellor of Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences to postpone the exams scheduled from June 20.

Telangana Junior Doctors Association has sent a representation to reschedule the exams as even one asymptomatic carrier in the exam room can lead to many cases. Fifty students take the exams in one, the association said.