Docs seek action against SDM, plan pen-down strike tomorrow

Srinagar December 4The state is likely to face a shutdown of healthcare services as doctors are gearing up for a strike against the repeated incidents of humiliation by civil officers

Updated At : 06:17 AM Dec 05, 2017 IST

Doctors wear black bands as a sign of protest in Srinagar on Monday. Tribune photo

Samaan LateefTribune News Service

Srinagar, December 4

The state is likely to face a shutdown of healthcare services as doctors are gearing up for a strike against the “repeated incidents of humiliation” by civil officers.

The Doctors’ Association Kashmir (DAK), an amalgam of various associations of doctors of J&K, wrote to Health Minister Bali Baghat today, seeking a public apology and suspension of Syed Katari, Zainapora SDM.

Doctors across the state responded to the DAK call to wear black bands today and tomorrow. The association has called for a pen-down strike and protest from 10 am to 12 noon on Wednesday, barring emergencies and intensive care units.

“If the action is not taken in 72 hours, the government will be responsible for the consequences,” reads the letter. from DAK president Dr Suhail Naik. The association has sought strong disciplinary action against Syed Katari, Zainapora SDM, in Shopian district for publicly humiliating a senior surgeon for not wearing an apron.

“Humiliating doctors has become a norm,” reads the letter. The association members have asked the government to realise that doctors are working in difficult conditions at the cost of their social and family life.On Saturday, Katari visited the community health centre at Zainapora. He allegedly used “foul, unofficial and unparliamentary language” for Dr Intikhab Alam, a senior surgeon.

“The heating system in hospitals is not adequate. Under such circumstances, medical staff is forced to wear extra clothes in winter,” the doctor says in the letter, criticising Katari for directing the surgeon to wear an apron over the jacket. Doctors said Alam was coming out of the operation theatre after completing a surgery when the incident took place.

The video of the SDM scolding the doctor has also gone viral on social media.

‘Katari used foul language’

On Saturday, Syed Katari, Zainapora SDM, visited the community health centre at Zainapora
He allegedly used "foul, unofficial and unparliamentary language" for a senior surgeon for not wearing an apron
The Doctors' Association of Kashmir has sought a strong disciplinary action against the SDM for publicly humiliating the surgeon