Day 4: No elective services in OPDs of PGI, 2 major hospitals in Chandigarh

Akashdeep Virk

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16

Fresh admissions to OPD remained suspended across the PGI, GMCH, Sector 32; and the GMSH, Sector 16, as the resident doctors’ strike entered its fourth day today. Against the estimated daily footfall of 10,000 at the PGI’s OPD, only 4,587 patients were attended to.

The protesting doctors and senior faculty members have stated that the protest will continue till the justice is delivered and a concrete assurance is given by the government over the “Central Protection Act” for medical staff.

The OPDs bore comparatively a deserted look as no new admissions were made and elective services remained suspended. “I have come from Yamunanagar. I am old and I do not read news. I wanted to get my ears checked here but on reaching here, I was told that no new cases are being entertained. The students’ protest is justified but in this issue between the government and doctors, patients also suffer,” said stick-wielding Sushma Devi, who was in her early 70s.

The protesting residents took out protest marches on the campus and also distributed pamphlets printed in Punjabi and Hindi seeking people’s support. The protesters from the PGI, GMCH and GMSH also assembled at the Sukhna Lake to apprise people of their demands and raise voice against the lack of safety measures for health staff.

The senior faculty members of the PGI have extended their support to the protesting residents and announced that they would share the burden by actively attending to patients who might suffer due to the strike. In a press conference held at the PGI today, the faculty members condemned the Kolkata incident and also announced that they would wear black bands in solidarity with the protesters.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) have called a nationwide strike and the private health institutions have also been asked to keep their elective services suspended.

While the protesting doctors have been demanding a speedy trial and stringent punishment for the accused in the Kolkata rape and murder case, they have flagged security issues in the health institutions and demanded for enactment of the Central Protection Act to ensure stringent action against miscreants who indulge in violence against health officials.

“The Kolkata incident was horrifying, disgraceful and appalling. The government should be more serious about security of people who save lives of people. The students have been forced to be in this situation. The Central Protection Bill is pending with the legislature since 2017. It should have been implemented by now. After such gruesome incident, is there still a scope left to wait and watch?” asked Prof Neeraj Khurana, a senior faculty member of the PGI, while addressing mediapersons.

The faculty members stated that they had formed a joint action group with other associations, including nurses, and all departments, unions have extended their support to the strike being observed by the resident doctors.

The faculty members requested the public to come to their support and alleged that political leaders and elected members had not raised their voice over the issue. “When we protest, we are accused of being inconsiderate towards the public but we are ensuring that no serious and emergency case suffers. While our residents are protesting, we are always available to help people. Only elective services have been suspended and it is being ensured that follow-up cases are attended to. Nobody in need is being returned,” said another senior faculty member. Members of the Association of Resident Doctors from the PGI were also present.