Delhi govt cancels leave of doctors as dengue crisis worsens in national capital

New Delhi: With dengue cases multiplying with each passing day and patients crowding the hospitals, Delhi government cancelled the leave of all doctors and paramedical staff including nurses and lab technicians. [caption id=“attachment_2433436” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] The move comes in the wake of hospitals struggling with manpower to deal with the rush of patients seeking dengue treatment. “In view of an exigency due to dengue outbreak, all leaves stand cancelled till the present situation improves,” read a circular issued by Hindu Rao hospital. According to the officials at the Health department of Delhi government, they had received requests from several hospitals for extra doctors and para-medical staff to deal with the increasing number of dengue patients visiting the hospitals. “We have received requests from several hospitals demanding deployment of extra doctors and para-medical staff in their hospitals to deal with the increasing number of dengue patients. “In view of that we directed them to cancel the leaves of their doctors and para-medical staff till this emergency situation prevails,” said the official. “The current strength of doctors, paramedics and lab technicians is proving inadequate to deal with the increasing number of patients visiting the emergency wards,” said a senior doctor from Lok Nayak hospital. “The staff is sanctioned as per the number of beds. But in this situation, hospitals are flooded with patients seeking treatment for dengue fever. Also, we have other cases of heart attacks and other serious diseases coming to us which also we cannot ignore. So we are really over burdened,” said a doctor. Delhi government has also ordered all government hospitals to open ‘Fever Clinics’ at their premises to detect the disease at the primary level. As per the municipal corporation’s fresh data, 613 cases of dengue have been reported in the last one week and a total 1,872 patients have tested positive for the vector borne disease till 12 September. The Directorate of Health Services has issued an advisory to all government and private hospitals directing them not to deny admission to patients affected by the vector-borne disease. PTI