PGI resident docs strike work

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 29

Hundreds of PGI resident doctors today went on a strike for over six hours, seeking fulfilment of their demands, some of them long-pending, following Dr Dhanshree Sharma’s death on July 26 in a road accident at Naraingarh. Later in the day, the PGI authorities accepted all of their demands.

The strike, which began here today at 8 am and ended well past 1 pm, had around 1,200 senior and junior residents skipping work to protest. The PGI faculty also expressed solidarity with the residents by remaining off work for one hour from 8 am to 9 am, in support of the demands.

Hundreds of resident doctors gathered outside the Director’s office at Kairon Block at 9 am and protested wearing black badges. Representatives of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) were summoned for a meeting by PGI Director Dr Yogesh Chawla at 12 pm, which continued for over an hour. The doctors, meanwhile, continued dharna outside till past 1 pm, filling up “resident doctors’ welfare” surveys and questionnaires issued by the ARD.

Patients left high & dry

Nursing and support staff struggle to strike a balance in the absence of doctors.

On Friday, thousands of patients at the PGI were asked to return home without treatment in the wake of the resident doctors’ six-hour strike. 

Almost all out-patient departments (OPDs) functioned with skeletal staff and authorities struggled to keep emergency services functional, contrary to the PGI authorities’ claims.

Patients speak up

Docs not bothered about patients

I have been camping at the PGI since Thursday night, but was asked to go back home. These doctors are striking work over a dead colleague and not caring two hoots about hundreds of patients who might die, waiting for treatment. — Manoj Kumar, a patient from Karnal 

Who is responsible for the inconvenience?

I had come to get my injured leg treated. Doctors could have submitted a memorandum to the authorities instead of striking work. Who is responsible for the inconvenience caused to patients? — Vijay Singh, A Karnal resident

I was told to come next week

I came here from Panipat at 5 am to get treatment for my allergy and diabetes. After waiting for several hours, I was informed at 11 am by the security guard that there was no doctor available on Friday and I would have to come back next week. — Gitabo, A Panipat resident