Doctors' Strike and State of Healthcare

What the Recent Doctors' Strike in India Reveals About the State of Healthcare

Doctors in India have been on strike for various reasons, including inadequate staffing, violence against medical professionals, and delays in counseling and exams. The latest strike, which began on March 21, 2023, is being held by doctors in Rajasthan to protest against the government's decision to give free or post-pay healthcare services in the state. The strike has led to the shutdown of many hospitals and clinics, leaving patients without access to medical care.

Strike rally by doctors in Rajasthan: sources anonymous

The ongoing strike by doctors in Rajasthan highlights the deep-rooted issues that plague India's healthcare system. The lack of adequate staffing, infrastructure, and resources has been a longstanding problem, leading to burnout and exhaustion among medical professionals. The situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put an immense strain on the healthcare system and exposed its vulnerabilities.

The strike by doctors in Rajasthan is just one example of the larger issue of healthcare in India. The government's decision to healthcare services has been met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that it will lead to the commodification of healthcare 

What is the Right to Health bill in Rajasthan?

It seems The Right to Health Bill passed in the Rajasthan Assembly gives every resident of the state the right to emergency treatment and care “without prepayment" at any public health institution, health care establishment and designated healthcare centers. Moreover, 'allegations and legal actions against doctor if cannot treat the patient' is of major concern and presenting inappropriate and incomplete preparation of bill.

The Conclusion

The doctors' strike in India is a complex issue that has many underlying causes. While the immediate reasons for the strike may vary, the larger issue of the deteriorating healthcare system in India is a common thread that runs through all of them. The strikes have highlighted the need for urgent reforms in the healthcare sector to address the concerns of doctors and patients alike.

It is important to note that the doctors' strike is not just a problem for the medical profession, but for society as a whole. When doctors go on strike, patients suffer, and often the most vulnerable members of society are the worst affected. The government needs to take a more proactive approach to addressing the concerns of doctors and ensuring that the healthcare system is adequately resourced and staffed to meet the needs of the population.

While the doctors' strike is a cause for concern, it is also an opportunity for positive change. The strike has brought the issue of healthcare to the forefront of public consciousness, and there is now a greater awareness of the challenges facing the sector. By working together, doctors, policymakers, and civil society can find solutions to these challenges and build a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, and of high quality.

Reasons for Doctors Strike

Unmet Demands

One of the primary reasons for doctors' strikes in India is the unmet demands of the medical fraternity. For instance, resident doctors have been protesting since November 2021 over the delay in college allotments after the NEET PG exam. The protest has been taking place across various cities in India. Similarly, doctors are protesting over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counseling. After completing the MBBS degree, doctors have to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to get a postgraduate degree. However, the delay in counseling has caused unrest among doctors.

Moreover, doctors have been demanding better pay, more job security, and better working conditions. Despite repeated assurances from the government, these demands have not been met, leading to strikes and protests.

Violence Against Doctors

Violence against doctors has become a major issue in India. Doctors have been attacked, beaten up, and even killed by patients' families due to alleged medical negligence. This has led to a sense of insecurity among doctors, who feel that their safety is not being taken seriously. As a result, doctors have been protesting to demand better security measures and stricter laws against those who attack them.

Moreover, doctors have been demanding that the government should take steps to create awareness among people about the importance of doctors and the work they do. They believe that such awareness will help reduce incidents of violence against doctors.

Poor Working Conditions

Poor working conditions have also been a major cause of concern for doctors in India. Many doctors have to work long hours without adequate breaks, leading to burnout and fatigue. Moreover, many hospitals lack basic facilities such as clean water, sanitation, and proper equipment. This makes it difficult for doctors to provide quality healthcare to patients.

Furthermore, doctors have been demanding that the government should invest more in healthcare infrastructure and provide better facilities to doctors. They believe that such measures will not only improve the quality of healthcare but also help reduce the burden on doctors.

Impact of Doctors Strike

On Patients

Patients are the most affected by doctors' strikes in India. With doctors refusing to work, patients are left without medical care and attention. They are forced to wait for long hours or even days without treatment, leading to a worsening of their health condition. In some cases, patients have lost their lives due to the unavailability of medical care during doctors' strikes.

The strikes cause a lot of inconvenience to patients and their families, who have to run from pillar to post in search of medical attention. The strikes also lead to a backlog of patients, which takes a long time to clear even after the strike is over. This puts a lot of pressure on the healthcare system and affects the quality of medical care provided to patients.

On Healthcare System

The healthcare system in India is already overburdened, and doctors' strikes only add to the burden. The strikes disrupt the functioning of hospitals and clinics, leading to a shortage of medical staff and facilities. This puts a lot of pressure on the remaining medical staff, who have to work extra hours to compensate for the absence of their colleagues.

The strikes also lead to a loss of revenue for hospitals and clinics, affecting their financial stability. This, in turn, affects the quality of medical care provided to patients. The strikes also lead to a loss of trust in the healthcare system, which takes a long time to rebuild even after the strike is over.

On Government

The government is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the healthcare system in India. Doctors' strikes indicate a failure on the part of the government to address the concerns of medical professionals. The strikes also highlight the need for the government to invest more in the healthcare system and improve working conditions for medical professionals.

The strikes also put pressure on the government to take immediate action to resolve the issues raised by medical professionals. The government has to come up with a long-term solution to prevent such strikes from happening in the future. This requires a collaborative effort between the government and medical professionals to address the root cause of the problem.

Government Response

Measures Taken

The government has taken several measures to address the concerns of the striking doctors. In Gujarat, the state government formed a committee to look into the demands of the resident doctors who had gone on strike. Similarly, in Delhi, the government has assured the doctors that their demands will be looked into. In 2021, the Gujarat government issued a government resolution addressing several demands of senior doctors.

However, the measures taken by the government have not always been enough to satisfy the striking doctors. For instance, in 2021, around a million doctors in India went on a day-long strike to protest against a new federal government rule that allows practitioners of traditional medicine to perform surgeries. The government's response to this protest was criticized by many doctors who felt that their concerns were not being heard.

Criticism

The government has faced criticism for its handling of the doctors' strikes in India. Some doctors feel that the government is not doing enough to address their concerns, particularly when it comes to issues such as understaffing and inadequate resources in hospitals. Others have criticized the government for taking a heavy-handed approach to dealing with the strikes, such as by threatening to take legal action against striking doctors. 

source: criticism on rajasthan govt related to doctors strike response cartoon - Bing images

There have also been concerns raised about the impact of the strikes on patients. When doctors go on strike, patients often face long waits for treatment and may be forced to seek care at private hospitals, which can be expensive. Additionally, there have been reports of patients dying as a result of the strikes, although it is unclear how many of these deaths are directly attributable to the strikes themselves.