Doctors ensured services despite Eid festivities
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: Doctors at the Department of Surgery, Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, today disclosed that 60% of patients they received at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in the last 24 hours were victims of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) across Kashmir.
Out of the total cases reported to the Accident and Emergency Department of SMHS, the Surgery Department attended to 361 patients, of whom 53 were admitted for further treatment.
“…on a 24-hour shift on Eid day…361 patients, including 53 inpatients, were managed. 60% were road traffic accidents. Please drive carefully,” wrote Dr. Iqbal Saleem Mir, who currently heads the Department of Surgery, on X.
Despite the Eid festivities, doctors, primarily from outside Kashmir, along with other staff in the Surgery Department, remained available to ensure that patients received necessary care and services.
Dr. Saleem told Excelsior that during Eid, there has been an increase in road traffic accidents, emphasizing the need for adherence to traffic rules and precautions, especially among youngsters who make up a substantial portion of these victims.
A Resident Doctor in the Surgery Department mentioned that during this period, in addition to treating patients requiring further care, four life-saving surgeries were also performed.
“The patients were seamlessly attended to by the doctors and the staff available despite it being Eid and despite the non-availability of canteen services during these days; the staff ensured that they are at their respective stations,” he said.
Another healthcare professional, on duty during Eid days in the Department of Surgery, said that the doctors, paramedics and nurses deserve due credit, “because they leave their families despite festivities; especially those doctors who have come from outside J&K.”
The efforts of the doctors received praise online, with people commending the role of healthcare professionals and emphasizing the importance of their presence in saving precious lives.
A doctor from Kashmir currently working in the United Kingdom, Shaheen Shora, wrote: “Great work sacrificing family time to look after patients! Medicine remains a noble profession…We get 1 day extra annual leave in lieu for every day worked on an official holiday day. Something to consider if not already happening.”
Such instances, where doctors remained available for patient care despite festivities, were also reported from various parts of Kashmir.
Earlier, Secretary Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, shared a post showing doctors performing a Lower Segment Cesarean Section (LSCS) at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bijbehara, terming the team of doctors “heroes”.
“It takes conviction & strength to place duty before self. On festival days when most spend it with family & friends, there are doctors & paramedics who spend it on duty, in the care of patients. To all those who are on duty today, like on many other festival days, you are our heroes,” the Secretary wrote on X, sharing photos from the OT where the LSCS was performed.
The Bone & Joint Hospital, Barzulla, also received a number of RTA cases during Eid days; however, the exact numbers were not available at the time of this report.
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