Follow Us
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 17
With the government and private hospitals withdrawing non-essential medical services for 24 hours starting 6 am on Monday, the patients visiting these hospitals, especially from far off rural areas, were harassed and had to return empty handed. The hospitals, however, attended emergency cases.
The OPD services were suspended on the call of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest against rising instances of violence against medical professionals. The latest case has been reported from West Bengal where doctors were attacked, leaving one of them severely injured. Since then, doctors in West Bengal have been up in arms against the government, demanding security. Medical professionals from across the country are supporting them.
A visit to Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, revealed that most of the patients were not aware of the protest call. Satish Kumar, a patient, said, “We were not aware of the protest. I had taken an off from work to get my daughter examined at the GMC. With no doctor available, I am helpless. The government should step in to protect the rights of the patients and ensure security of medical staff.”
Meanwhile, private hospitals’ protest left patients confused as they have never experienced such a thing. “It is hard to believe that private hospitals too are on protest. Though we have seen many protests and strikes by government doctors, this is perhaps for the first time by private hospitals,” said a resident, Kewal Sharma.
Security of medical staff has been an issue at the Government Medical College as well for a long time due to which the administration took some steps, including installing CCTV cameras and increasing the number of security guards.
A GMC faculty member, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “Sometimes doctors have to face the public wrath for shortcomings of the government. Sometimes, patients’ attendants behave rudely as they get agitated due to medical condition of their patients. There is a need for sensitisation and strict implementation of norms. If there is an instance of assault, people have to protest to get even complaint registered. The law and order machinery should be made more effective.”