OPD services hit; Civil Hospital staff share security concerns

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 16

In the backdrop of the gruesome rape and murder of a resident doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, OPD services at all public health care centres remained suspended today in response to call by the PCMS association, demanding justice for the victim.

Hoshairpur doctors seek justice seek fair probe

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Hoshiarpur: To protest the murder of a female doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, OPD services and elective surgeries at CHCs, PHCs, sub-divisional and district hospitals across the district were closed at Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur. Dr Manmohan Singh, Chief Advisor, PCMSA, Hoshiarpur, demanded a fair probe into the case and strict action against the culprits. PCMSA president Dr Kartar Singh said if such incidents were not stopped from the front, then doctors will have to intensify their action. — OC

Emergency & medico-legal services, however, continued to remain functional.

Patients were seen waiting for the doctors to come to the OPDs. An elderly was seen lying on a chair. "I am waiting for the doctor. I want earlier admitted here, have come here to get medicine," she said.

In line with its zero-tolerance stance towards violence against healthcare professionals and its steadfast commitment towards ensuring their safety, PCMSA strongly urged the government to walk the talk on the issue by ensuring a safe, secure and conducive environment, effectively aimed at providing seamless healthcare delivery services to the people of the state.

“It is an everyday struggle for us as women. Many times drunk relatives of the patients try to get too close whenever we are on duty at night,” said a medical staff from Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.

A doctor shared that it was common for her to deal with an uncomfortable gaze whenever she was on night duty. “Whenever we feel that something might go wrong, we immediately call the security guard,” she added. The horrific rape and murder incident in Kolkata Hospital has shaken everyone and scared them..

The Tribune talked to women medical staff who were on duty at the Civil Hospital and everyone of them said that they were scared.

Another medical staff member who was performing her duty at a ward expressed her feelings, “We live in an environment of fear. Kolkata-like incidents can happen anywhere.”

As per the information, three ASIs by the Punjab Police remain on duty at night, while earlier there were around seven of them.

Dr Geeta, Medical Superintendent, (MS) said, “I have always asked my staff to inform immediately if they feel any discomfort and I will get the FIR lodged. There are CCTV cameras, but we will increase the number of the cameras now. Also, we have put up the request to increase the number of security guards by the Punjab Police.”

The MS further added, “This incident has scared them, but I want to assure them that their security is our foremost responsibility.”