February 2010 - Indian Airforce
February 2010 - Indian Airforce
February 2010 - Indian Airforce
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The question will be asked, what<br />
about Preflight Medicals or medical<br />
cover during afternoon/ evening<br />
flying. That can be arranged between<br />
the MO/ SMO. The whole concept<br />
of preflight medicals itself needs an<br />
honest introspection. Similarly, if the<br />
MO from a single MO Unit goes on<br />
leave, and there is a local hospital<br />
available in the civil, the unit should<br />
accept medical care without the MO<br />
for short durations. Such a paradigm<br />
change in our approach could bring<br />
much needed relief.<br />
a Gypsy which could have been considered good to be<br />
offered to any Sqn Cdr, or Branch head, leave alone other<br />
small Section Cdrs. This STRESS is unique only to the<br />
Medical Branch.<br />
Let’s talk of some solutions.<br />
Why should a Medical officer be on DMO duty at an<br />
SMC when military hospital is located at 10, 15 or even<br />
20 minute driving distance. Why couldn’t the patients<br />
be seen at the SMC by the Duty Medical Asst, and those<br />
requiring the attention of Medical officer be seen at the<br />
Hospital. Such a system has many feasible benefits. Two<br />
Med offrs at a base doing alternate DMO duties will no<br />
longer be ‘stressed’, as they will share DMO duties in the<br />
hospital with a larger MO pool. No doubt, the DMO will<br />
be busy in the hospital, but then in turn will enhance<br />
his skills and experience. The question will be asked,<br />
what about Preflight Medicals or Medical cover during<br />
afternoon/ evening flying. That can be arranged between<br />
the MO/ SMO. The whole concept of preflight medicals<br />
itself needs an honest introspection. Similarly, if the MO<br />
from a single MO unit goes on leave, and there is a local<br />
hospital available in the civil, the unit should accept<br />
medical care without the MO for short durations. Such<br />
a paradigm change in our approach could bring much<br />
needed relief. After all, what happens in big metros like<br />
Bangalore and Delhi. There is no 24x7 MO in colonies like<br />
MP Camp, Akash Vihar, Vishwa Vihar in Bangalore, similar<br />
may be the case in Shankar Vihar in Delhi. They all go to<br />
Command Hospital/ Base Hospital and the driving time<br />
could well be 30-40 minutes.<br />
Other baby steps in this direction.<br />
Lets make the SMO/Medical a group head at the field<br />
level, a PSO at the Command and Air Headquarters level.<br />
A lot of things that do cause stress will automatically fall<br />
into place. Sounds a tough one! All changes appear tough<br />
when first proposed.<br />
Does this all make sense? Did you ever think or<br />
visualize the other side of life of a Medical officer?<br />
Possibly not! Let’s take small steps in this direction.<br />
These small steps will then chart a path that will possibly<br />
minimize working stress in the Medical branch without<br />
compromising patient care in the AF.<br />
Gp Capt Narinder Taneja (Med) is posted to 20 Wing AF.<br />
A weather forecast of 1934<br />
“Dust and or thunderstorm with<br />
or without percipitations likely,<br />
occasionally, temporarily and locally in<br />
your area”.<br />
- From “Birth of an Air Force”<br />
Memoirs of the late AVM Harjinder Singh.<br />
INDIAN AIR FORCE 2 01 0 F e b r u a r y Flight Safety 21
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