Gajra Raja Medical College doctors suspend pen-down strike after talks with administration
Gwalior: Junior doctors at Gajra Raja Medical College (GRMC) in Gwalior suspended their pen-down strike on Wednesday following discussions with the administration. The strike had disrupted outpatient department services at the Jaya Arogya Group of Hospitals, leaving patients facing difficulties accessing consultations and diagnostic tests.
The strike was launched to protest the alleged assault on the college dean, who was reportedly slapped by an advocate at the trauma centre following Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s visit. Although senior doctors were assigned OPD duties to minimise this disruption, several departments continued to face difficulties in providing services during the strike.
Patients reportedly found some examination rooms closed, while others waited outside departments for medical consultations. Services at the anaesthesia room, respiratory medicine department and non-communicable disease screening clinic were reportedly affected. Ophthalmology investigations were also disrupted, forcing patients to wait or leave without receiving the required care.
Following complaints from patients, the Hospital Superintendent inspected several departments, including surgery, ophthalmology and gynaecology. He directed staff to ensure that no patient was denied treatment, Nai Duniya reported.
The strike followed an incident at the GRMC trauma centre after the Chief Minister’s visit. The dean was briefing the media about injured patients when an advocate allegedly attacked him. People present at the scene subsequently assaulted the advocate before handing him over to the police.
Police took the accused into custody and began investigating the circumstances and possible motive behind the attack. Officials said further legal action would follow the receipt of a written complaint from the concerned party.
On Wednesday, the City Superintendent of Police and the dean held discussions with the protesting junior doctors. Following the talks, the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) called off the strike.
Meanwhile, sanitation workers and security personnel also staged a protest at the old Jaya Arogya Hospital campus, demanding stronger security arrangements. They said the attack on the dean had raised concerns about their own safety. Their agitation affected sanitation services on the campus, adding to the operational challenges faced by the hospital.
