‘95% of Patna private clinics open now’

PATNA: The friendly neighbourhood physicians, who had shut their clinics because of coronavirus fear, are back to work. Barring big private hospitals, most of the doctors had shut their clinics.
“Now 95% of the clinics are opened. Only those doctors who are above 65 years of age have not resumed work,” said Indian Medical Association (Bihar) secretary Dr Sunil Kumar.
He said most of the doctors had stopped OPD initially. “The fear was such that no one wanted to take any risk. But how could one survive without practising for more than a month. Doctors had to pay their staff and those on rent had to pay for the space. It was also hampering doctors financially. And how long one can stay at home without work,” Dr Sunil said. He said the government should frame standard operating procedures for private hospitals and clinics to function during the Covid-19 pandemic.
State IMA former secretary Dr Brajnandan Kumar said now people, including doctors, are used to coronavirus scare. “Initially, there was too much fear. But now people have realized that we have to live with it,” he said.
Patna Obstetric and Gynaecological Society member Dr Usha Didwania said almost all the gynaecologists associated with the society have resumed work. “Earlier, most of us working single-handedly had stopped OPD services, though we were attending emergency cases. But those having huge set-up with sufficient number of doctors were functional throughout. Now, for the past one week, all have returned to work.”
Dr Didwania said the doctors are now taking all precautions while attending to patients. “Earlier in my chamber, the patient and her attendants were allowed. But now we are allowing only patients, unless it is very necessary to interact with the attendant. Also, after the patient enters the clinic, her temperature is checked and hands are sanitized. We also provide masks to those who come without covering their nose and mouth,” she said.