Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 16: Following alleged scuffle between attendants of a patient and some doctors in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu, after midnight of August 14, the resident doctors of the GMC&H and its associated hospitals went on strike and suspended work in all sections of the hospitals, including wards and Emergency Department.
According to the reports, a scuffle broke out among attendants of a patient, who was declared as brought dead by the doctors at emergency of GMC&H, and some resident doctors at about 1 am on August 15 following which residents doctors went on protest demanding FIR against the accused attendants and deployment of at least 30 security personnel from J&K police in the emergency of the hospital.
Though police deployed near the emergency of the hospital intervened but they failed to pacify the agitating resident doctors, who went on indefinite strike and suspended all type of work.
Sources said that due to the ongoing strike of resident doctors, the patients are suffering badly as consultants and other senior doctors are finding it difficult to tackle the huge rush of patients in the emergency.
When contacted, one of the representatives of Resident Doctors’ Association, Dr Akhil said the strike will continue until our all demands are met by the Hospital. He said we had demanded deployment of at least 30 security personnel from J&K Police whereas we got only 10. Therefore, we have decided to continue the strike.
He said, “Though FIR in the case has been lodged, yet this is not enough. We need proper security so that such an episode does not occur in future”.
SHO, Police Station Bakshi Nagar, Inspector Ashwani Kumar, said that as per the demands of the agitating resident doctors we have registered an FIR against unknown attendants. But it is impossible for us to fulfill their other demand of deploying 30 police personnel only in emergency of the hospital but we have deployed 10 police personnel and promised them to continue the practice.
Principal, GMC&H Jammu, Dr Zahid Gillani, said that all the demands of the agitating doctors have been fulfilled but still they are continuing the strike, which is completely illegal, unlawful and against their service rules. He said that it is shameful that these doctors went on strike on August 15, when whole country was celebrating Independence Day.
He said earlier today morning we have called a meeting of all Medical Superintendents, and HoDs during which it was decided that disciplinary action will be taken against the resident doctors if they did not return to their work till 8 pm tonight. “Following this many doctors joined work but many of the agitating doctors are still on strike, which compelled us to call another meeting of Medical Superintendents and HODs during which we have decided to take disciplinary action against the erring doctors after proper approval from the College Council”, he added.
He said meanwhile, emergency is being run by consultants while Medical Officers and other senior doctors are running the OPDs so that no patient suffers due to the strike.
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