Abuse of doctors
This refers to the reports in your newspaper of incidents of violence against doctors treating Covid patients at the GMC and SGDH; and the threat by GARD to withdraw services provided by its constituents in Covid hospitals.
I wish to draw your attention to the Act entitled “THE GOA MEDICARE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND MEDICARE SERVICE INSTITUTIONS (PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AND DAMAGE OR LOSS TO PROPERTY) BILL, 2013” which has been in force in Goa for nearly ten years. The stringent provisions of this act are specifically designed to prevent such abuse and violence. For example in the event of destruction of equipment the perpetrator has to pay twice the cost of replacement of the equipment; and if unable to do so his assets can be seized to compensate the loss.
My question is: Have the affected doctors filed a complaint with the appropriate authorities e.g. the Dean and/or the DHS? If not why not? because this is the first step? If a complaint has been filed, have the authorities taken action against the perpetrators under the provisions of this law? Has an FIR been filed? Has an enquiry been initiated? The authorities are also able to take suo moto action in the interests of continuing healthcare. If the perpetrators were relatives of a deceased patient surely they are traceable.
If indeed no action has been taken the doctors are perfectly justified in their stated intentions.
Whilst the doctors have a responsibility to their patients, they also have every right to expect that duty to be carried out under the umbrella of a reassurance of some semblance of security. The Medical profession can hardly continue to be society’s punching bag or doormat.
I make these comments in view of the fact that this is not the first time this has happened; and it certainly won’t be the last if exemplary action is not taken
Gladstone D’Costa, Dabolim
Labour Day
Every year on May 1, people across the world, including India, celebrate Labour Day as a public holiday. A few arrange get-togethers to enjoy the much needed holiday while others spend it either watching TV, playing games or sleeping all day. The idea is to gain as much from this day as one can – for oneself. But, what no one does is think about what this day truly stands for. Has any of us done something of value for the labour class or tried to resolve their problems?
There are countless problems which are being faced by our labourers such as poverty, illiteracy, food and water crises and so many others. A vast majority of labourers and daily-wage workers remain outside the field of labour laws, which means that workers have no paid holidays, no job security, no medical coverage, no pension or provident fund, no limit on working hours and are paid no overtime.
In India with all this, there is also an issue of child labour. Child labour in India is growing at a disturbing rate. Hundreds and thousands of children struggle to achieve their basic necessities of life. Children are the future of any country and we should all work to help them become better people. Child labour is a very complex problem with its root in the socio-economic environment of the country. The children suffer from lack of education and health facilities and better employment.
It is important to note that India became a member of the International Labour Organisation right after its independence in 1947. However, there is not much change when I look at the present situation as there seem to be no labour laws’ implementation. There should be an international monitoring in the country and people should be held accountable who use child labour and bonded labour. I know many people who are working as labourers just for a small amount of money and they don’t even have a day off, because the day they don’t work, there is no food in their house.
What has our Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say about this?
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Goa envoloped in perilous state
On account of the rank failure of government to take the much needed timely preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, Goa now finds itself deeply enveloped in a perilous state of affairs.
It may be late, but we need to fight this virus. We must commend Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for personally successfully appealing to his constituents to voluntarily close down their establishments and stay at home to break this virus chain. Infact every MLA and representatives of Zilla Panchayats. Municipalities and Panchayats across Goa should similarly be reaching out to the people in ensuring that for our own safety and well being it is a self imposed lockdown.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has recklessly failed the State. He has merrily been chanting ‘Bhivapachi Garaz Na’ and violating the mandatory use of mask. Infact at one function he was caught on camera brazenly using the mask to clean his face.
After the first wave there was enough time to augment the Health Infrastructure, an investment which would never be waste. We are now scrambling for beds, doctors besides nurses and support staff with the shortage of oxygen so glaring and devastating.
The government has indulged in mass gathering and events which should have been avoided. That mega exhibition ‘Hunar Haat’ held at Campal was a disastrous Goa’s Kumbh Mela. Even those municipal elections could have waited till return of normalcy.
At the hospitals we understandably get outraged and furious seeing our loved ones just die. But it is absolutely unacceptable that in this fury we dare verbally and even physically abuse the doctors and the staff. They have been doing their best within the limited resources and for this we need to be ever grateful to them for discharging their duties while risking their own lives. Let us as children of that one loving and extremely tolerant God, pray that Goa gets out of the current woods.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
