Won’t tolerate violence, say doctors in Hoshiarpur

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, June 17

“We will serve, but not tolerate manhandling” was the pledge taken by members of the Indian Medical Association, Hoshiarpur, during a protest staged here against the assault on doctors in Kolkata.

The doctors observed a strike as per directions of the IMA. The strike began from since 6 am.

All routine medical services, except emergency services and treatment of in-house patients, were suspended for 24 hours.

The Medical Laboratory Association led by Manmohan Singh also extended its support to the IMA.

To mark the protest, a general body meeting of the local IMA unit was held under the leadership of Dr Naresh Sud.

In the meeting, Dr Rajender Sharma, former state president, IMA, Punjab, criticised the attack on young doctors in Kolkata.

He said no doctor wanted that his patients should die, but people resorting to violence after any mishap was not acceptable.

He deplored the arrogance shown by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in handling the situation even after six days of the incident.

“The government is about to bring a draconian law in the name of regulating the medical institutions, but on the other hand, it has failed to implement the 2008 Act for Protection of Medical Institution. The government should first implement it fully, only then a regulatory body shall be thought of,” Dr Sharma said.

Dr Kuldip Singh, also a former president of IMA, Punjab, while wishing a speedy recovery of the doctors who suffered serious injuries, asked the Central government to make a central act with stringent provisions on the lines of POCSO Act to punish the accused in case of assault on doctors.

He said an inter-ministerial committee was made two years ago but its recommendations were gathering dust.

“Often, it’s said that private treatment was

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