Four doctors here have joined hands to help asymptomatic Covid-19 patients and people suffering from other ailments by giving free consultations over phone.

Jayanta Bhattacharya, Debabrata Roy, Sudeb Saha — all general physicians — and paediatrician M.R. Ali have been available over the phone in the evening hours for the past few days and talking to patients who seek advice regarding their treatment.

Roy is associated with government healthcare, while the other three are private practitioners.

“Like in other parts of the state, Covid cases are on the rise in Raiganj. These days, patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms are advised to stay in home isolation. Many such patients need medical guidance on their treatment and hence, we have taken an initiative to help them. We are providing a sort of tele-medicine service,” said Bhattacharya.

To ensure more and more people can reach them over the phone, the doctors have shared details like their cellphone numbers and the time when people can call them on the social media.

While Bhattacharya is available for consultation from 6pm to 8pm, patients can call up Saha from 7pm to 9pm.

Roy, the third general physician, is accessible from 7pm to 10pm and the paediatrician attends the calls from 8pm to 10pm.

“Along with Covid-19 patients, there are hundreds of others, including children, who have other ailments.

Then, there are patients with chronic illness. They also need medical advice and we are offering the service to them without any charges. Being medical practitioners, we feel this is the time to
help ordinary people,” said Roy.

The service, one of them pointed out, would also ease the load on doctors at government hospitals and private clinics as a section of patients staying at home call them regularly to know about their treatment.

“If required, the doctors are also asking the callers to send their medical reports and old prescriptions so that they can advise them accordingly. Each of the four doctors receives around 50 calls a day,” said a source.

North Dinajpur district magistrate Arvind Kumar Mina said: “Ever since the pandemic has started spreading in our country, doctors are working as frontline warriors. We appreciate the initiative taken by these doctors. It would help a large number of patients in the district.”