PGI doctors examine patients at protest site

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, August 20

Medicine cures diseases, but only doctors can cure patients — a saying by famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jun was evident as protesting doctors examined patients outside the Bhargava Auditorium, PGI, today.

Many patients queued outside the venue for the protest. The doctors did minor check-ups and prescribed medicines to the patients at the protest site located in an open ground. “We just cannot leave patients suffering. We stand in solidarity against the incident that happened in Kolkata, but we are performing our duty simultaneously. Our protest is not out of politics, but to demand full justice,” said Dr A Patel from the PGI. From adults to toddlers, all got a patient hearing from the doctors.

“It was like revisiting the old times when there were no buildings and doctors used to examine patients in the open. Disruption to the system by organising protests, which troubles the general public, should be discouraged. The doctors have made a good example of how a protest should be conducted,” said Aanchal, who was there with her toddler, who was suffering from a chest infection.

Earlier in the day, the doctors marked a silent protest by wearing masks to signify their contribution to the fight against the Covid pandemic. In the evening, they took out a candlelight march across the city. “We are demanding justice for our fellow, who lost her life to a heinous crime. The fight for justice will continue,” said Dr Sukrtri.

At the PGI, a total of 3,837 patients were examined at the OPDs, while 159 indoor admissions were reported. In Emergency, a total of 510 patients were attended to and 70 surgeries were conducted.

“In the morning, we decided to carry out check-ups at the protest site. Since our nature of work doesn’t allow us to just leave our occupation, we will continue to perform our duty till the time our protest continues across the nation. We are demanding justice and a central protection Act from the government,” said another doctor.

The Union Health Ministry has issued guidelines to ensure safety of healthcare professionals by taking various steps such as properly displaying relevant penal provisions of the state legislation to prevent violence against health care workers in hospitals, installing a sufficient number of high-resolution CCTV cameras, setting up a control room for quick response to an emergency, etc.

Meanwhile, the PGI has decided to enhance CCTV surveillance, install panic buttons and set up round-the-clock control room, claimed sources. A 12-member committee has been formed to make the PGI campus safe for resident doctors and patients.