At 5:30 AM on May 28, Dr. Anika Sharma, a senior resident at Sikkim’s STNM Hospital, received a frantic call from her mother. Her six-year-old son had spiked a fever overnight. But there was a problem: Dr. Sharma couldn’t take leave. Neither could any of the hospital’s 1,200 staff members.
A Strict Directive Disrupts Hospital Operations
A day earlier, the hospital’s administration had issued a strict circular ordering all doctors, nurses, and support staff to report to work by 8:30 AM sharp, with no exceptions. The reason? Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile visit to Gangtok. The directive explicitly stated: “No leave of any kind shall be entertained.”
The order, signed by the PCC-cum-Director of STNM Hospital, emphasized that early attendance was necessary to “avoid traffic congestion” during the PM’s motorcade. However, for medical staff, the mandate raised more significant questions: Should a VIP visit take precedence over patient care and worker rights?
Behind the Scenes: A Hospital on Lockdown
STNM Hospital, the largest government medical facility in Sikkim, typically operates with flexible shift rotations to manage its heavy patient load. But on May 29, the rules changed:
- Mandatory Early Reporting: Staff were instructed to arrive two hours before their usual shifts to bypass road closures.
- Attendance Crackdown: Heads of Departments (HoDs) were tasked with conducting strict roll calls to ensure 100% compliance.
- No Exemptions: Even staff with medical emergencies or family crises were denied leave.
A junior nurse, speaking anonymously, revealed: “We were told security would note absentees. Some of us had to leave kids with neighbors just to make it on time.”
This isn’t the first time Indian hospitals have faced disruptions to VIP protocol. In 2013, Tamil Nadu enforced restricted visiting hours to curb overcrowding, but exemptions were made for critical cases. STNM’s blanket ban, however, left no room for exceptions.
The Ripple Effect: Patient Care Takes a Backseat
While the administration framed the move as “essential for coordination,” frontline workers reported chaos:
- Delayed Procedures: Elective surgeries were rescheduled as staff scrambled to comply.
- Overcrowded Wards: With no extra personnel, nurses were tasked with handling double the patient load during peak hours.
- Morale Dip: “We’re healthcare workers, not event managers,” a senior doctor remarked.
Comparisons to COVID-19 lockdowns surfaced. During the pandemic, hospitals banned visitors to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and limit the spread of infections. But this time, the priority wasn’t safety. It was logistics for a political visit.
The Bigger Debate: VIP Culture vs. Healthcare Rights
India’s Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act 2020 protects healthcare workers from violence but says nothing about forced attendance during state events. Legal experts argue such mandates could violate labour codes under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
Meanwhile, protocols for PM Modi’s foreign visits contrast sharply. His 2024 state visit to the U.S. involved months of planning but didn’t mandate lockdowns for local workers.
Conclusion: A Systemic Issue Laid Bare
As Prime Minister Modi inaugurated projects in Gangtok, the STNM Hospital’s staff worked under unprecedented strain. The incident highlights a recurring problem: India’s healthcare system is often compromised by political influence, often at the expense of its workers and patients.
Key Takeaways:
- No-leave orders disrupt hospital operations and patient care.
- VIP security protocols should strike a balance between public convenience and essential services.
- Policy gaps leave healthcare workers vulnerable to arbitrary mandates.
For now, Dr. Sharma’s son is recovering, but the question lingers: Should saving lives take a backseat to traffic management?
