Junior docs go on strike at GMC
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, July 16: The patient care services at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu were severely impacted today as junior doctors went on an indefinite strike after two of their female colleagues were physically assaulted by a patient’s attendant. The protest extended even to the Emergency Unit, prompting the administration to deploy senior faculty and consultants to manage critical services.
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The incident occurred around 11:30 AM in Ward Number 1 of the Medicine Department. As per reports, Dr Aayushi (PG 1st year) and Dr Ruchika (PG 3rd year) were allegedly attacked by a female attendant of Rajinder Kumar, a patient admitted on July 11 after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Rajinder Kumar, a resident of Old Rehari in Jammu, passed away this morning due to respiratory arrest. Following his death, his attendant reportedly became violent, hurling abuses and physically assaulting the on-duty doctors, accusing them of negligence.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the attendant kicked and beat the doctors in full public view, holding them responsible for the patient’s death. The incident triggered outrage among resident doctors, who immediately suspended all medical services including OPD, in-patient care, and emergency operations. The protesting doctors demanded registration of an FIR and immediate arrest of the accused. Despite attempts by the hospital administration to defuse the situation, the doctors remained firm, refusing to resume duties until the accused was taken into custody.
To prevent a complete collapse of healthcare services, the college administration issued an urgent directive to all Heads of Departments (HoDs), instructing them to ensure the deployment of faculty members and consultants in the Emergency Ward. “All Clinical and Para-clinical HoDs have been instructed to deploy senior staff in the Emergency Ward to maintain patient care until junior doctors resume their duties,” stated an official order issued by Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu.
Meanwhile, an FIR was registered by Bakshi Nagar Police Station based on a formal complaint submitted by Dr Aayushi through the office of the Principal. However, the protesting doctors declined to return to work, maintaining that an FIR alone was not sufficient and that the arrest of the accused was necessary.
In an official statement, the Principal’s office clarified that the patient had been referred to GMC Jammu from PGI Chandigarh with a diagnosis of massive brain hemorrhage. The PGI discharge slip, it said, had clearly mentioned the poor prognosis and advised only basic medical and nursing care at a local facility. “Despite this, the best possible treatment was provided at GMC Jammu,” the statement said.
The handout further confirmed that the assault was captured on CCTV footage, clearly showing the attendant physically attacking the female doctor after the patient’s demise. “The patient expired on the fifth day of admission due to respiratory arrest. Following this, the attendants launched a verbal and physical attack on the lady doctor and other staff,” the statement read.
“Till the filing of this report, the strike by junior doctors continued, and the situation remained tense. Meanwhile, the college administration was making every possible effort to maintain essential services while addressing the safety concerns raised by the resident doctors.”
Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jammu chapter, has strongly condemned the assault on the young female doctor. “Such acts are unacceptable and detrimental to the delivery of critical medical services,” the IMA statement said and called upon the authorities to take swift and decisive action against those responsible for the assault and implement stricter measures to ensure the safety and security of medical personnel in all healthcare facilities.
Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ), under the leadership of its president Balvinder Singh, has also strongly condemned the assault on the doctor, expressing serious concern over the growing incidents of violence against medical professionals. In an official statement, the Association termed such attacks as criminal acts that not only endanger lives but also erode the core values of the medical profession. The DAJ has called for immediate measures to ensure a safe and secure working environment for doctors and healthcare workers.
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