Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 27: Healthcare services were affected for the second consecutive day today as junior doctors continued their strike after some of their colleges were manhandled by patients and attendants on Tuesday, even though the striking medicos met Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din at SMHS.
At least 150 doctors remained off the work today to treat people in-patient and out-patient departments, but casualty and emergency wards were suspended from strike.
“We met Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din and demanded working doctors be provided foolproof security, manhandling of doctors be made a non-bailable offence. The Minister assured us that these demands will be met,” Dr. Adil Ashraf, president Resident Doctors Association, told Excelsior.
But the president said they would continue their strike until the Minister gives them in writing that their demands would be fulfilled.
The president said, ironically, the hospital authorities lie to them by merely claiming that they have registered FIR’s against people who manhandled doctors on duty, “but not a single person has been arrested yet or punished.”
Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) also conveyed the visiting Minister that doctors find it difficult to work under hostile atmosphere.
Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan, President DAK said they told the Minister that unless the culprits involved in beating of doctors at SMHS Hospital are not arrested, doctors won’t resume their duties.
“It was conveyed to Minister that if they are not arrested we are left with no option than to close all other hospitals and onus will lie on the Government. We demanded an Ordinance on pattern of Andhra Pradesh that any person who physically assaults a doctor, paramedic should get a non-bailable warrant,” Dr Hassan said.
Meanwhile, Communist Party general secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has condemned the attack on doctors in the hospital and has demanded that culprits should be booked under law.
“While the Government should take a stern action against the culprits responsible for the incident, it is imperative for the administration take the requisite measures to prevent such attacks in future,” Tarigami said.
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