Private doctors take out rally in Panipat

Tribune News Service

Panipat, August 17

Enraged over the rape and murder incident of a senior resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College at Kolkata, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) observed a 24-hour strike in Sonepat and Panipat districts today. As per the IMA call, the strike started at 6 am on Saturday and it would end at 6 am on Sunday morning.

Members of the IMA, Panipat chapter, on Saturday gathered in the Sky Lark tourist resort and took out a protest march on the NH-44 from there.

They stopped all health services, including OPD, tests and diagnostics, except emergency services.

Doctors from around 60 private hospitals and 80 dental clinics in the district organised a protest march from Sky Lark to the Mini-Secretariat. Due to the strike of the private doctors, the patient load in the Civil hospital increased.

As per sources, over 2,100 patients reached the Civil Hospital on Saturday. IMA president Dr Dilip, Dr Varun Goyal, president, Dental Association, Dr Pankaj Mutneja, Dr BK Gupta addressed the gathering.

Dr Mutneja said it was a very unfortunate incident. “Doctors serve the people but they themselves are not safe,” he said.

The government should ensure security of doctors at health institutions, he added. Doctors also demanded the arrest of the accused and sought justice for the victim.

Though the protesting nursing staff joined their duties on Saturday after the Model Code of Conduct was implemented on Friday evening, resident doctors, interns and UG medical students continued their strike today. Members of the medical teachers’ association (MTA) worked with black badges in support of the students today.