This is my second visit to a polyclinic in Jeddah and I am once again surprised at the level of noise from medical staff and the blatant flouting of ethics in these centers.
It seems that the mushrooming of private medical centers in Jeddah and the cut-throat competition among them to attract record numbers of customers, has resulted in the general decline of professionalism and nursing ethics. In earlier times when nursing was considered a respectable and noble profession which it is, a hushed silence and a general aura of serenity in the wards as well as in and around the premises of these centers of healing was a characteristic feature. However, today in this mad rush of commercialism, where money speaks louder than humanity and where it sometimes becomes the only factor between life and death, things have changed drastically with clinics looking more and more like corporates.
Jeddah’s polyclinics have taken on an entirely different specter: That of an institution which has thrown all medical ethics to the four winds. Heavily made up nurses tottering on 4-inch heels have become a common sight. Sounds of laughter, rubbing shoulders with staff members, shouting across stretches of corridors is no longer thought to be reprehensible and this in full view of doctors and the management who turn a blind eye to what would be termed as misdemeanors.
Unfortunately, patients have little say in all this. After all, they have paid for the services and are guaranteed to receive the medical aid. Nonetheless, it puts the medical profession in a bad light and also reflects poorly on the institutes which have produced such graduates.
I think, time be spent on orientating young nurses, male and female on the noble mission and the special trust they are responsible for which is to put human wellbeing and life first. Granted that the gruelling working hours at these polyclinics can tax the body and soul, socialising should strictly be left for after hours or the weekends. — Ozma Siddiqui, Jeddah
Chaos at polyclinics
