Govt doctors assaulted in Patiala, Amritsar hospitals

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Patiala, July 14

Junior doctors at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Patiala and Amritsar today went on a strike after an assault on resident doctors (doing post-graduation) in both cities.

Around 100 PG doctors of Government Rajindra Hospital and Medical College, Patiala, protested after one of their colleagues was slapped by the relative of a patient late last night.

The protesters alleged that three persons entered the hospital’s emergency in an inebriated condition and slapped Dr Manuj Chaudhary.

A case was registered under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty),186 (obstructing public servant) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC against Kulwinder Singh Lucky, Babanpreet Singh Sandy and Jaspreet Singh Prince. They were later arrested.

In Amritsar, three PG students of the GMC were assaulted by attendants of a patient, Bhaan Singh (70) of Kakkranwala village (Tarn Taran), who died this morning at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH).

Dr Jagbir Singh suffered a broken arm, while Dr Inderjot Kaur and Dr Sukhdeep Singh, who tried to save their colleague, were also attacked.

The doctors-students sat on a dharna outside the emergency ward. The functioning of the emergency services as well as the OPD came to a halt.

One of the accused persons, Baldev Singh, was arrested. It was alleged that the assailants were armed with blunt weapons.

Bhaan Singh was admitted in the medicine ward of Dr BS Bal, Principal of the college, in a critical condition on Tuesday.

Dr Bal said the patient was suffering from septicaemia and had a history of uncontrolled diabetes, which was conveyed to his attendants.

He said when the patient died, four attendants assaulted Dr Jagbir Singh, Dr Inderjot and Dr Sukhdeep. Later, when the staff nurses and paramedics gathered, three of them escaped, while Baldev was handed over to the police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police BK Singla said a case had been registered against three persons for assaulting and injuring a public servant on duty.

By the time this report was filed, doctors at the GMC, Patiala, had reported for work after a meeting with the Director, Medical Education.

Dr Gagandeep Singh Sidhu, president of the Resident Doctors Association, Patiala, said all their demands, including security, installation of CCTV cameras etc, had been met and the accused arrested.

However, the strike at the GMC, Amritsar, was still on and a large number of doctors were sitting on protest. Dr Gagandeep Shergill, a PG student and senior vice-president of the Punjab PCMS Association, demanded adequate security measures in the hospital. He said a few days ago, they had suggested to the authorities to close down multiple entries to the hospital and emergency ward, besides regulating the presence of attendants near the patient.

He said only one or two attendants should be allowed near the patient.

Nurses hold protest

The contractual nursing and ancillary staff of Government Rajindra Hospital today blocked National Highway-1 at Rajpura. The protesters lifted the dharna around 6.30 pm after their meeting was fixed with the Chief Minister. The protesters, who have boycotted work since June 1, are demanding regularisation of services.