When striking doctors decided to risk the lives of the poor to protest against the Right to Health (RTH) Bill passed by the Rajasthan government, a doctor- turned-IAS officer immediately came to the rescue of hundreds, despite his own suffering.
District Magistrate of Bundi Dr. Ravindra Goswami treated three score people for over an hour along with just four other doctors as long queues gathered outside the district hospital. As 68 doctors on duty at the Bundi District Hospital decided to stay off-duty to protest the bill they claim does little to aid patients while penalising doctors and hospitals, Dr Goswami left a meeting to handle trauma patients and others amid complete chaos.
ONCE A DOCTOR ALWAYS A DOCTOR
Dr. Goswami learned about the doctor’s strike while attending a meeting at the district hospital. As a licenced and certified medical practitioner, he chose to alleviate the suffering of the common man by treating them himself.
The officer, who holds an MBBS degree, and worked in the field for 3-4 years before joining the IAS, reached the hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Wards and inquired about the patients’ conditions.
It is noteworthy that the officer himself is suffering from a torn ligament and has been advised complete bed rest by the doctor, but he ignored all that as he knew that the poor and sick needed him more. Keeping his own agony aside, the officer walked around with the aid of a cane as he treated others.
TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING
The officer diagnosed and treated around 60 patients in approximately one hour. Along with treating the patients, he also inspected the hospital and made a note of all the arrangements there.
“It is my humble request to the doctors of the state to put their views forward in a way that the poor and needy do not suffer because of it. They can convey their reasonable demands to the government but the patients shouldn’t suffer,” Dr. Goswami shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
HAILED BY THE CM
Many, including Chief Minister Mr. Ashok Gehlot, praised Dr. Goswami for his quick thinking and dedication. Mr. Gehlot, commended the officer on Twitter, stating:
