Doctor's strike

After much waiting, we finally have a down-pour on our hands. Typical Mumbai monsoon - intense rain for short stretches throughout the day - effectively flooding all the low-lying areas and bringing rail traffic to periodic halts.

In the midst of all of this the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has gone on strike demanding better pay and conditions for the doctors and interns serving at government hospitals.

We may lament the public health system. We may gnash our teeth at the inefficiencies and appalling state of many of the civil hospitals. But they are a life-line to so many in the city.

With the strike in full force - the terrible cost was evident. Most who presented at the gate of the Mumbai govt. hospitals were sent away because there were no doctors to see them.

Newspapers showed pictures of doctors shining shoes outside the hospital. If this was supposed to show that they felt used like menial artisans - then it didn't elicit any sympathy from me.

On Friday, Rahul, one of our JSK staff took Mr. Babban (name changed of course) to Sion hospital. He was not going on a picnic. Mr. Babban has been in terrible pain with an infection in his upper thigh. He has already had it drained once, but now needed another draining.

The two braved the rain and the crowded trains and got to Sion hospital, only to find that the doctors were on strike. Back again in the pain and the rain.

People with HIV face many challenges. These are compounded by the daily challenge of living in the city. With all the financial power that Mumbai has - and we have hospitals that are at least staffed - in contrast to many parts of our country - we still lack so much for common people.

People like Mr. Babban who is exhausted, sick and depressed. Living in his shack with 4 of his 6 children. Nursing his suppurating wound and his swollen thigh.