Election duty: AYUSH wants more responsibility

BHOPAL: Amid debate over specialist doctors being roped in for election duty, MP AYUSH medical association (MP-AMA) has offered its services. It is apprehended that OPD and other hospital services would be affected as some 250 government doctors in the state capital have been placed on election duty.
According to MP-AMA state president Dr Rakesh Pandey there are about 250 AYUSH doctors in government hospitals and around 300 doing private practice."If required, more AYUSH doctors can be called for election duty thus avoiding any hindrance in medical services," said Dr Pandey, terming it a service to the nation.
At the moment, district administration through the chief medical and health officer (CMHO) has shortlisted some 400 doctors to provide emergency healthcare service at the polling booth. Although only 250 will be selected, the list includes specialists, who have been asked to do a job, doctors said which can be done by any MBBS or even by a paramedic.
Facing a crunch of staff, district hospitals have alerted women doctors to take additional charge from April 16 to April 18. "OPD services are likely to be affected most a day ahead of polling. We have advised doctors to take additional charge," said a senior health official.
"All types of facilities and professionals have a role during elections. It is not different for doctors," said chief electoral officer MP Jaideep Govind. However, selection of people as per requirement is a call taken by the district collector, he added.
Madhya Pradesh Medical Officers Association (MPMOA) president Dr Ajay Khare claimed that election officials have been made aware of the objections during the state assembly elections. Not coming on record, many specialist doctors privately admit that election commission needs to relook its policy on use of specialist doctors at the polling booth.
"There is no provision of facility of administering glucose saline at polling booth in case of dehydration to voters during some emergency on a hot April day. We would be armed only with a first aid kit or at the most ORS solution. In case of emergency, one would be rushed to the nearby hospital," said a doctor.