Goa: Patient kin brutally assaults gynaecologist, 3 held after State IMA uproar

The arrest was made hours after Goa branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) protested outside Porvorim police station on Monday demanding the arrest of the accused.

The case concerned a gynaecologist working with a private hospital who had lodged a complaint on Friday with Porvorim police stating that he had been hit by a man whose wife had delivered a baby at the facility.

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Commenting on the uproar over the act of violence against the doctor, IMA Goa president Dr Vinayak Buvaji stated that no action was taken since the FIR was filed under Goa Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property Act 2013, due to which they protested.

Soon a delegation of the apex medical body met Deputy Superintendent of Police Edwin Colaco, who assured that the culprit would be arrested soon. The delegation set September 1 as deadline for action in the matter.

The medical practitioners of Goa also demanded strict action against the accused and stood in solidarity with IMA via social media. Dr Shekhar Salkar tweeted stating, " IMA Goa delegation met CM, Dr Pramod P Sawant over assault on doctor at #Porvorim issue. CM has personally instructed police to take stern action against all the accused. We are expecting the arrests soon. Doctors' safety is of paramount importance for healthcare sector."

"We want to inform you (police) that we can resort to a ''tool-down'' strike if no arrest is made," Dr Dattaram Desai, a senior doctor, told senior officers. In a ''tool-down'' strike, professionals/workers report to work but keep away from assigned jobs.

The IMA members said while an FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint, the accused in the assault case was allowed to go after being called to the police station. They said they are protected under the Medicare Act but the police department was not implementing the law.

"We are scared to work under such circumstances," a senior doctor said.

Dr Saidutt Kuvelkar, another senior medical practitioner, stated that doctors would resort to a strike if no arrest were made. "The police will be held responsible if doctors go on a strike," he said.

The association of private nursing homes also extended support to the IMA initiative. The association pointed out that though 2013 Medicare Act protects Healthcare workers and hospitals, the public is not aware of it.

"Provisions under the act carry severe penalties for offences against doctors or healthcare facilities. The provisions have to be applied to penalise the accused in the case," Association of Private Nursing Homes, Goa, president, Dr Milind Colvalcar told Times of India.

Finally, hours after the protest, the three people were arrested by the police on Monday.

Dr Shekhar Salkar also tweeted stating, " Thank you CM Dr Pramod P Sawant and DGP Goa for pursuing the matter and getting arrested 3 accused involved in the assault on the doctor. Kudos to #IMA for showing the unity in support of the fellow colleagues."

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