Himachal resident doctors call off strike after CM promises termination review
Shimla: Over 2,000 resident doctors in Shimla called off their strike following assurances from the Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The protesting doctors have demanded the reinstatement of the senior resident in the department of Pulmonary Medicine at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and the initiation of a transparent, time-bound inquiry.
The protest comes in the wake of the incident on December 22 at IGMC, in which the resident doctor overnight became the centre of controversy after a viral video showed him punching a patient multiple times in the face, and the patient kicking on while lying on the bed. The footage triggered widespread public outrage and put the state government under pressure amid its stated push for healthcare reforms.
In a statement, the Resident Doctors Association of IGMC, Shimla, said the government has assured them that the doctor's termination could also be revoked.
According to a recent PTI report, the doctors' association said the indefinite strike that entered the second day on Sunday was called off with immediate effect in the larger public interest.
The termination had set off resident doctors to announce an indefinite strike on Saturday, with medical services, barring emergency services, disrupted for the second day at a few places in the state. On Friday, resident doctors were on mass leave.
However, the association maintained that it is awaiting the revocation of the doctor's termination following the inquiry report. The doctors said they will hold a meeting again on January 3 to discuss their future plan of action.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister appealed to the doctors to resume work, adding that he has directed officials to reopen the inquiry into the incident.
On Friday, members of the doctors' association met Sukhu, who assured action against those who allegedly threatened the doctor and promised new guidelines to ensure the doctors' security within hospitals.
"If the doctors wish to continue with talks, they should leave their pride behind, call off their strike and resume work tomorrow. I will call senior doctors of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) for talks, as nothing is set in stone. The decision can be reviewed if the doctor feels he is punished," he told mediapersons here on his return from New Delhi, reports PTI.
Sukhu also said the doctor should have lodged a complaint instead of "assaulting" the patient.
The senior resident doctor of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) was removed from service following a physical altercation with a patient.
The confrontation, captured in a video, showed the doctor punching the patient, Arjun Singh, who allegedly attempted to kick the doctor.
Singh claimed the dispute arose after he objected to being addressed as "tu" instead of "tum", which he said made him aggressive. However, he maintained that it was Singh who instigated the fight by using abusive language against him and his family.
The report of an inquiry committee found both parties at fault. They found "misconduct, misbehaviour and acts of unbecoming a public servant" on the doctor's part, officials said.
Sukhu said the doctors have been assured that the inquiry into the incident will be reopened. "There was no point of going on strike after the CM has assured re-enquiry into the matter," he said.
"Doctors are considered god by patients. Half of the patient's recovery is achieved if the doctor is polite. But this incident was different. The patient was feeling breathless and lying on an empty bed after bronchoscopy. When the doctor comes, an argument and scuffle starts as seen in the video," he said.
Sukhu said his government has reduced duty hours of senior resident doctors from 48 hours to 12 hours and increased their stipend from Rs 65,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per month, but such incidents have risen.
"Such behaviour is wrong, and action was taken against the doctor who could have backed out and lodged a complaint with a senior. But he reacted aggressively and physically assaulted the patient in the presence of other doctors and patients," he said.
The chief minister added that if such incidents happen, the poor will refrain from coming to hospitals. "Doctors should understand this."
The protesting doctors have demanded that he be reinstated and that a transparent, time-bound inquiry be initiated. They also asked for action against the "anti-social elements" who caused chaos in the hospital to prevent such incidents in the future.
The state health minister termed the strike a wrong move and said that the situation could have been avoided had the doctor apologised earlier.
Also Read:IGMC Shimla Doctors on mass leave seeking reinstatement of resident doctor
