Constant protests are taking place in Kerala. COVID-19 duty doctors over Kerala have given mass resignation to show solidarity with a colleague who they believe was unjustly barred by the government. On Friday, doctors all over the state took to the streets to complain against the suspension of Dr. Aruna, a COVID-19 nodal officer at the Government Medical College hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The stoppage was based on a medical negligence case, where the family of a coronavirus patient, identified as Anil Kumar, complained that he had not been treated well at Thiruvananthapuram MCH and that his back was infested with maggots when he was discharged.
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Before a probe was finished, the nodal officer of the ward, Dr Aruna, and two head nurses were excluded with immediate effect until pending inquiry. However, experts have pointed out that the root of the problem lies in the fact that the hospitals are heavily understaffed, and working with the bare minimum workforce. “We have raised the issue multiple times with the government. They know we are understaffed and hence cannot individually monitor every patient in the ward,” Dr Nirmal Bhaskar, secretary of Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association, told a leading daily.
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With COVID-19 cases arising in Kerala by the day, there are 550 COVID-19 patients who are receiving treatment at the Medical College ward. There are 60 critical patients, of which 25 patients are bedridden, with minimum staff to monitor, he added. On Saturday, all nodal officers of Thiruvananthapuram COVID-19 hospitals resigned in order to prolong assistance to Dr. Aruna. On Sunday, nodal officers from across the state will also turn in their resignation letters to protest against the government’s move.