Odisha: Doctor, nurse assaulted at CHC by patient's kin angry over delay in administering injection

As per a recent media report, a patient from Athar village was admitted to the facility for treatment on Monday at around 11 p.m. After examining the patient, the doctor prescribed him an injection and instructed the nurse administrator it to the patient. The kin of the patient alleged that the nurse was negligent in her duty and delayed in administering the jab to the patient, reports prameyanews.

Angry over the alleged delay, the patient's relatives started ransacking the hospital and also attacked the doctor, nurse, and security guard. Balipatna police were immediately informed and they rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

Following the incident, Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) has demanded strict action against the attackers. The attack on healthcare workers inside the hospital premises has once again raised a question on the safety of healthcare workers. The association has also demanded that police personnel should be deployed on the hospital premises to ensure the safety of the staff, reports the daily.

On Tuesday, the members of the association themselves paid a visit to the CHC in order to analyze the situation. The OMSA has also threatened that authorities that until action is taken against the attackers were arrested, the doctors may consider avoiding emergency duty also.

Previously Medical Dialogues reported that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had urged the government to enact a central law with IPC sections fixing the responsible officers to investigate, time frame for investigation, and punishments to the culprits, as early as possible, without the option for bail. The association pointed out that though there are existing laws for violence against healthcare workers, there is ambiguity in recognizing which section to file the case under and hence very often the culprits go scot-free.