Jipmer OPD suspending services on central govt holidays draws flak

PUDUCHERRY: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) suspending its services at the out-patient departments on central govt holidays has drawn flak from all sections of people particularly the patients from neighbouring states. Jipmer has announced that its OPD will remain closed on Budda Purnima on May 23 as it is a central govt holiday.

"OPD services at Jipmer will be closed on May 23 on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, a central govt holiday. Hence, patients are requested not to visit the OPD on this date. However, emergency services will function without interruption", said a release from the institute.

Surprisingly, Jipmer, touted as an institute of national importance, has more public holidays than state govt hospitals. Patients have expressed great hardships when the institute suspends OPD services. "I would question why a central government hospital has more holidays (17) than the Puducherry govt general hospital (16). I am surprised that central govt educational institutions have fewer public holidays than central govt medical colleges and hospitals. Why can't they operate at a lesser capacity at least on these so-called public holidays? Is there any data to show that OPD patients are fewer these days? What is the basis for 17 holidays per year?" said Zhivago K Antony, a research scholar at Pondicherry University.

Jipmer maintained that suspending OPD services has been a practice over the years on central govt holidays over the decades. "We are a central govt institute. We follow central govt rules and regulations. Buddha Purnima is a central govt holiday and our OPD is closed but not our emergency medical services. People know the institute is closed on central govt holidays. However, we issue press releases ahead of the closure to alert patients about the closure," said Jipmer director Rakesh Agarwal.

Rajan, a patient, said people from the interior pockets of the Puducherry and neighbouring states do not read newspapers. A hospital like Jipmer, which must be extending healthcare facilities round the clock by managing its staff strength cannot wash off its hands claiming that it cannot work on central govt holidays. "Jipmer officials's argument that they have made than announcement on its OPD closure cannot be accepted at any cost. All private hospitals function on central govt holidays. It is like diverting the poor patients seeking free treatment at govt hospitals to approach private hospitals and shell out a lot of money for treatment," said Rajan.