Lakhs of hapless patients who cannot afford the vagaries of the so-called five star and other omnipresent private hospitals in India become victims of the government doctors who go on strike at the mere drop of a hat every now and then in the country. Close on the heels of the government doctors in the God’s own country Kerala and Tamil Nadu, around 5000 doctors are on strike in Maharashtra, leaving the poor patients in the lurch.

Due to the strike, which have entered its fourth day today, several people have lost their precious lives due to the absence of doctors and relatives of the patients are running from pillar to post to get the attention of the doctors to save lives.

Is it ethical for the doctors in the government hospitals to hold lakhs of poor patients to ransom for whatever reasons? Are they taking the Hippocratic Oath or the oath of hypocrisy? Is it not part of their duty to ensure that their protests for pay hike and other demands do not affect the poor patients who throng the government hospitals from far and near alike?

I think, it is time the doctors and the government should review the entire issue thoroughly. There is urgent need to understand the concept of a doctors’ job. For a doctor who pursues a job in the thousands of government hospitals in the country, it should be a mission. A mission to serve the humanity as the patients who visit the government hospitals are normally economically backward people who have no wherewithal to afford the ubiquitous private hospitals for whom it is just a business to mint money. In my opinion, for whom it is not a mission, they should join the private hospitals only.

Of course, in a democratic country like India, the doctors have the right to strike work to get their demands fulfilled. They also want money for a decent living. But, they have to ensure that their strike does not affect the patients who need immediate medical attention. But that is not the case in the country at present. The strike may end in another day or two. But, who will be held responsible for the lives lost only due to the strike?

I think it is time both the doctors and the government ponder over the issue to come to a lasting solution so that the hapless patients are not held ransom by the doctors any more.