Nurses fill shoes of striking doctors at Beawar hospital
With the doctors on strike, nurses have stepped in their shoes at a hospital in Beawar district.
The 300-bed Amrit Kaur District Hospital saw at least 1,500 outpatients every day, which has drastically come down 500 after the strike began on December 16.
Principal medical officer Dr MK Jain said, “We have issued orders empowering nurses to see the patients. At least 30 doctors are on strike and only three of us are on duty currently.” He added that once the nurses prescribe the medicine, one of the three doctors verify it and sign the prescription card.
The elevation, though welcomed by nurses, is a violation of Medical Council of India (MCI) norms.
‘ MCI objected to the idea ‘
“The nurses have wanted to step in doctors’ shoes, at least for prescribing first aid medicines and we first proposed it in 2012. But the MCI strongly objected to the idea,” said Rajendra Rana, president, Rajasthan Nurses Association (United).
Rana said, “In 2014, the government constituted a committee, comprising three nurses and three doctors. The panel has already submitted its report but no action has been taken.” Some nurses pointed out that the state government runs several schemes where it distributes free medicines from health centres in rural areas. Since doctors are not posted in such centres, nurses handle their functioning.
Times of India
