I have to update this publicly...
what happened in Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) on 19th
October, 2012 is just ridiculous. One senior doctor was threatened by
medical Representatives (MRs), that too because the doctor was acting
in the interest of the patients. What was Prof. Deba Kumar Goswami
doing? He asked the Medical Representatives to leave OPD in the interest
of the better patient service. And they in return tried to physically
abuse him. Should anybody tolerate this? Its a fact that some of the
medical representatives often visit the doctors during the OPD hours
bringing inconvenience to the patients by increasing their waiting time
and sometimes even breaching patient privacy. I think any patient or
attendant coming to GMCH or any other govt medical colleges or
institutions can relate to this. Keeping in view of this fact in
particular, the GMCH authority circulated one notification long back to
prevent entry of the Medical Representatives in the OPDs before 2pm.
They were free to visit the doctors in the wards or in their respective
rooms after 1pm. It was indeed a welcoming decision taken in the
interest of the patients and the public. When Dr. Goswami was trying to
follow these ethics, he got threatening of physical harm. If somehow he
would have been alone in the parking lot after his duty hours, only god
knows what would have been his fate. Even the strongest man's physical
strength becomes useless in front of a gang of 40-50. Even if they had
some issue with him, then also is it justifiable to try to attack him
physically? There are always some proper official or legal ways. When
somebody places social obligations ahead of personal benefits, I
suppose, he should always be encouraged. I personally think there should
be more public awareness regarding this. Or else some anti social
elements will raise to a level which will once become unbearable even
for the whole public.
