Female doctor assaulted at AMU Hospital; resident doctors go on strike

Aligarh: Following the alleged assault of an on-duty female junior doctor in the emergency ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), resident doctors staged a strike, disrupting emergency medical services, officials said on Friday.

The strike began on Thursday afternoon after a female patient allegedly assaulted a resident doctor, apparently angered by delays in medical investigation due to the heavy rush.  

According to media reports, the incident took place when Prachi Maheshwari, a resident of ITI Road in the city, arrived at the medical college on Thursday with her husband, Navneet Maheshwari. She initially consulted a doctor in the outpatient department. It is alleged that she later slapped the junior doctor after not receiving VIP treatment. 

Resident Doctors Association (RDA) vice president Dr Akhtar Ali said there had been a spate of such incidents, raising serious safety concerns among doctors.

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"We are feeling very insecure. After a similar incident recently, we were assured by the AMU and district authorities that a mobile police team and around 200 security personnel, including women staff, would be deployed at the hospital, but nothing has been done," he told PTI.

He also alleged that the police were late in responding to the assault complaint.

AMU Proctor Naved Khan rubbished the allegation, saying an FIR was promptly registered at the Civil Lines Police Station against the patient and her husband.

Speaking to Livehindustan, Civil Lines Inspector Arun Kumar said that a case has been registered against the woman and an unknown person under sections related to assaulting a doctor, obstructing government work, etc. An investigation is underway.

Khan acknowledged that the university has been facing a shortage of security personnel on the campus due to a freeze on recruitment owing to financial constraints.

He also admitted a lack of adequate female security staff, noting that many recent incidents involved female patients or attendants.

A meeting between senior AMU officials and RDA representatives is currently underway to resolve the issue and end the strike.

A university official stated that authorities assured doctors that their concerns regarding security would be addressed.

He added that, pending recruitment, personnel from other departments would be deployed at sensitive locations in the medical college.

Meanwhile, a junior doctor, requesting anonymity, said such incidents are increasing due to crowding and inadequate facilities in government hospitals, which cater largely to economically weaker sections. 

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