Doctors in Telangana Join Protest Against Kolkata Doctor’s Rape
As viral cases in city rises, government asks professors to step up their role
Hyderabad: Showing solidarity with a female doctor, who was raped and murdered in Kolkata, junior and resident doctors at all government hospitals in the state, including Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and Gandhi General Hospital (GGH), have boycotted work.
From Saturday, senior doctors, teaching staff, nursing officers, and other members of the medical fraternity will join the strike, suspending OPD and elective services as part of a call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
As the strike coincides with an outbreak of viral and other seasonal diseases, government hospital administrators have asked professors to work additional hours for patient care.
On Friday, doctors staged protests at OGH and GGH. However, the hospital superintendents reported that services have not been disrupted.
A team of correspondents from Deccan Chronicle visited several hospitals in the city to assess the situation and found an increase in cases of viral fevers over the past three weeks.
Rakesh Sahay, superintendent of Osmania Hospital, stated, "We have a strength of 200 professors, 60 senior doctors, 800 junior doctors, and around 125 interns. I and my staff condemn the assault, and we stand with the medical fraternity in demanding justice. However, our primary concern is to treat patients. We have requested professors to work additional hours to ensure that patient needs are met."
Dr Sahithi Reddy, a senior resident, said, "Justice must be delivered. If not now, this incident will be covered up. Female residents are often given odd shifts, forced to work additional hours, and must conduct rounds at odd times. They lack safety and security within their own campuses."
At Gandhi and Niloufer hospitals, emergency duties continued without interruption, despite the protests. Patients in emergency wards received treatment as usual, with faculty members and service staff actively working during the demonstrations.
Dr. Ajay Kumar Goud, a junior doctor at Gandhi Hospital, stated, "We stand in support of the victims and their families. Safety measures should be provided for all doctors, both male and female."
According to a patient’s attendant at Niloufer Hospital, "Doctors have been visiting since morning to check on my child. There are no issues with the treatment; it is continuing as usual."
Narender Kumar, the principal of Osmania Medical College, conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and expressed profound dismay that such a crime could occur within a hospital, where safety should be paramount.
In an attempt to enhance security on its premises, Osmania Medical College has centralised duty rooms to a single, secure location, providing attached washrooms, and establishing a common dining area for female doctors.
Female doctors will be accompanied by female security personnel during calls. The college has also increased the presence of female security officers, improved lighting in all corridors and pathways, and installed CCTV cameras for continuous monitoring of the premises.
The administration is sealing off vulnerable entry and exit points and conducting regular reviews of security measures to maintain a safe environment for all healthcare professionals.