Foreign trips for Odisha doctors to mitigate stress; police association seeks similar boost

Odisha government is sending doctors and other health department officials on foreign trips as part of exposure visits. Apart from foreign trips, some doctors and officials are also being sent to several ashrams across the country to learn stress management skills. Such measures are now part of the Health Department’s strategy to enhance the skills of doctors and officials and at the same time ensure that they are able to mitigate stress.

In a letter, the Health Department has asked the Transport Department to book flight tickets to Dubai for 20 doctors who will embark on the exposure tour from October 30 to November 3, 2023. Not only Dubai, but around 30 doctors and officials will be leaving for Singapore tomorrow.

Prior to this, the state government had sent 40 doctors and officials in two batches on September 14 to Isha Ashram in Tamil Nadu. 25 doctors attended a skill development and stress management workshop at Brahma Kumaris ashram at Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Apart from Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, the health department has also picked two ashrams in Maharashtra and Kerala to send doctors.

The doctors, who will be leaving for the foreign trip, said there is stress among them as most of the doctor posts are lying vacant for which they have to be on duty for 18 to 20 hours on a daily basis. Hence, such initiatives are a must.

“We have a lesser number of doctors and we are over-burdened. We are unable to eat and sleep properly. As a doctor, treating and serving patients is the top priority. But by doing this, we are in stress,” said Dr Sanjit Sethi.

Dr Kiran Kumar Patnaik, vice-dean, FMMCH Balasore said, “As Singapore is quite developed in healthcare, the government has decided to send health professionals on an exposure tour."

But the question remains, why the government is keen on sending doctors on such foreign exposure tours to de-stress them instead of filling up the vacant posts? What are the criteria based on which the doctor and officials are being identified and sent? How do such officials and doctors confirm that they are stressed and whether they are producing any medical certificates?

Former Chief Secretary, Sudarshan Sahu said, “It is not justified to spend from the state exchequer as already the government employees are entitled to leave travel concession to rejuvenate themselves. Only handpicked doctors and officials who are obeying their instructions are being sent.”

Meanwhile, the Police Association has also raised questions over such a provision. The association claims that Police personnel are more stressed and hence they should be covered under this programme as well.

“Like doctors, police personnel are committed and working round the clock and do not get leave. Police do not have a particular work schedule. It would really beneficial if similar provisions are made by the government for the police personnel as well,” said Umesh Chandra Sahu, an official of the Police Association.