Doctors threaten to go on indefinite strike in Telangana
The junior doctors allege that apathy of the paramedical staff also leads to incidents which they are held responsible for.
Hyderabad: Junior doctors said they would go on an indefinite strike if their demand for additional security in emergency rooms not be met.
Dr Samatha Toopran said, “The assault happened because they believed it was medical negligence. This is the third time this month that we have had relatives react this way but what are we to do? With no basic drugs including saline available, how do we treat patients?” She said it was gross negligence of the hospital management. “We cannot be expected to take a call on which patient is more serious and who deserves the last saline bottle. It is a government hospital and medicines should be available free of cost.”
Dr Sai Kiran said, “We are often instructed to tell patients that their chances are bleak so that even if they die we will not be harmed. We have to hear so much of verbal abuse every day. We finally decided to go on strike as this attack was brutal and against a female intern. Our patience has run out.”
The junior doctors allege that apathy of the paramedical staff also leads to incidents which they are held responsible for. “If we are not provided with basic necessities, what are we to do,” a doctor asked.
They alleged the resident medical officer did not send the body of the patient, whose relatives ran amok on Sunday, to an autopsy to prove that there was no medical negligence. Asked about this, a hospital official claimed that the body was handed over to the police to follow legal procedures. OGH superintendent Dr G.V.S Murthy said security in the hospital was being boosted.
Hospitals where Junior doctors are on strike
Niloufer Hospital
TB Hospital
Institute of Mental Health
Gandhi Hospital
Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital
ENT Hospital, Koti
Maternity Hospital, Sultan Bazaar
Demands of junior doctors
Improved security in hospitals
Police force to be deployed in sensitive areas such as emergency wards
CCTV cameras to be installed in all areas of hospital
Stock of medicines and more equipment