Medical College becomes battlefield: Doctors beaten up, Ambulances set on Fire

Muzaffarpur: A premier medical college and hospital in north Bihar has turned into a battle ground following pitched battle between doctors and relatives of a patient in course of which two ambulances were set on fire.

A report in PTI states that the incident occurred at Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) after the relatives, accompanying a patient from Sheohar, complained that doctors were not paying heed to the patient and beat up junior doctors at the Emergency ward, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Town, Ashish Anand said. The patient was brought to SKMCH from Patna and was in critical condition

The patient died and this triggered the controversy which further escalated into violent clashes between doctors and attendants, states a report in India Today. The protesters set on fire two ambulances and also damaged cars and two-wheelers of doctors, the DSP said.

Doctors account differently:

When Medical Dialogues team contacted the doctors at the college, they had a completely different account to tell. One of the resident doctors pointed out the clash was instigated by various private ambulance drivers who illegally refer patients to private hospital. "Doctors at the college had an argument with these drivers, who run a racket of taking patients to private hospitals. They instigated the entire fight, bringing the mob and attacking the doctors."

Regarding the current situation, he accounted " Many doctors have locked themselves up inside the hospital rooms. The mob outside is waiting, attacking anyone whom they presume to be a doctor."

Some junior doctors wielding sticks, indeed retaliated by beating up the attackers, the DSP told PTI. Many others went into hiding in Medical Superintendent's room, refusing to come out.

Infuriated doctors have called it a strike, affecting functioning of the OPD ward in the hospital. The DSP along with sub divisional magistrate, Sunil Kumar, rushed to the hospital to bring the situation under control.

The chaos prevailing at the Medical College has forced the authorities to cordon off the area near the hospital and massive police deployment has now taken place to control the situation from worsening further. India today adds that for almost five hours the medical services came to a standstill because of the hospital area turning into a battlefield.

Deputy Superintendent of SKMCH Sunil Shahi complained of lack of security for doctors at the hospuital.