*J&K Govt says ready to provide security to docs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/Srinagar June 15: Extending their support to protesting doctors of West Bengal, doctors across J&K today held a 2-hour ‘black band’ protest demanding stringent laws to curb frequent attacks on doctors in health institutions while as junior doctors in GMC Jammu and associated hospitals boycotted routine OPD, IPD and OT work.
In Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and associated hospitals like SMGS and Super Speciality Hospital, junior doctors observed complete. They boycotted routine work of OPDs, IPDs and OTs. However, emergency services were exempted from the strike. Seniors doctors also observed strike for two hours from 12 noon to 2 PM by wearing black bands on their heads and arms.
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Patients bore the brunt of the protest, as they faced a lot of inconvenience and had to wait for long hours at hospital OPDs. However, no much rush was seen outside OPDs as most of the people being aware of the strike and protest of the doctors. The affect of the strike was not much on OPD work as senior doctors attended the OPD from 10 AM to 12 noon and 2 PM to 4 PM.
Meanwhile, Resident Doctors Association (RDA), GMC Jammu today decided to continue their strike on Monday if the Government of West Bengal does not resolve the issues of the doctors of that State till tomorrow. “RDA Jammu with conscience from MTA Jammu has unanimously decided to continue the strike on Monday from 8 AM to 8 AM next morning,” Dr Amit Kumar, president, RDA GMC Jammu said, adding that while the OPDs, IPDs and OT services will be suspended, the emergency services will continue.
The doctors also shut OPD work in District Hospitals and Sub-District Hospitals across Jammu province for 2 hours from 10 AM to 12 noon to support the pan India protest against the attack on doctors in West Bengal. Wearing black band on their wrists, they expressed their support to West Bengal doctors and demanded strict to curb assault on doctors.
Dr Balvinder Singh, president DAJ said that attack on West Bengal doctors was a barbaric incident and simulated like a mob lynching. “If situation in country will deteriorate like this, doctors will refuse to admit serious patients and all hospitals will become referral hospitals only,” he added. He appealed Governor Satya Pal Malik to kindly intervene and make assault on doctors a non-bailable offence and provide better infrastructure in hospitals of the State so that doctors may work in peaceful environment.
In the meanwhile, Atal Dullo, Commissioner Health and Medical Education J&K (H&ME) while talking to Excelsior, said that Government shares the concerns expressed by the doctors across the country, particularly the State, and is ready to provide security to the doctors working in the State under tough situations.
“While we stand with the doctors in this situation, we have to understand that the State is under President’s rule currently. Under such circumstances, it is not possible for the State to bring in any kind of ordinance; at this time only the Centre can do that,” he said while adding that “if the doctors face any inconvenience at any hospital across the State, we are ready to provide them security.”
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