Patients left high and dry

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 17

Medical services were hit hard after doctors of government and private hospitals joined the nationwide protest here today.

Doctors of government and private hospitals did not attend OPDs, leaving several patients, especially who came from other places out of town, high and dry.

In some private hospitals, patients were seen waiting for doctors while in government hospitals there were few patients due to holiday.

Sarwan Singh, who came at a private hospital here for check-up of his wife from Fatehgarh Sahib, said he was not aware of the doctors’ strike.

“My wife’s treatment is going on at the hospital. Today, the doctor has to carry out her routine check-up. Now, we have to come again here,” said Sarwan Singh.

According to the medical authorities here, only OPDs were closed but the doctors were attending all emergency cases in hospitals.

Earlier, all protesting doctors gathered at Phase 7 to lodge their protest.

Dr Sanjeet Singh, president of the Indian Medical Association, Mohali, said following increase in number of assault incidents on doctors in the recent past, medical staff had been feeling threatened and working under stressful conditions.

“The recent incident in West Bengal is shocking and the government should do something concrete for the safety of doctors,” he said.

Later, they gave a memorandum to Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu. The minister assured the protesting doctors that the government would take required steps in this direction. The minister also asked the doctors to perform their duties without any fear.

Memo submitted to Health Minister

The protesting doctors gave a memorandum to Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu. The minister assured the protesting doctors that the government would take required steps in this direction. The minister also asked the doctors to perform their duties without any fear.