SRINAGAR, Sept 18: Junior doctors of Kashmir’s premier Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital have called off their strike after government agreed to deploy security guards in the hospital.
Dozens of junior doctors, who are the main force of SMHS hospital, went on strike last week after few doctors were manhandled by angry attendants. The strike, families said, had caused grave problems to their loved ones as they were “left to die” in absence of doctors.
“The junior doctors who were on strike from last some days, today called off their strike after an assurance from minister for medical education R S Chib for taking appropriate measures for their security in the hospital,” an official spokesman said.
Earlier, the minister chaired a joint meeting of officers of hospital management and district administration and discussed measures in bringing improvement in the functioning of the hospital.
“It was decided in the meeting that number of Special Police Officers (SPOs) would be enhanced to further strengthen the security system in the prime patient care hospital of the valley,” the spokesman added.
The class-IV employees would also be engaged for the convenience of patients and hospital management, the meeting decided.
Besides introduction of entry pass system, some entry points of the hospital would also be closed to regulate the rush of attendants and contain the free flow of visitors in the hospital.
“A 5-member Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Principal GMC, Srinagar, which will identify the suitable areas with the help of specialists and faculty so that improvement is brought in the patient care of the hospital,” the spokesman said.
Chib condemned the incident of manhandling that occurred in the hospital the other day. He said that to handle with such incidents, the government is mulling over to bring law against the persons who misbehave with the doctors on duty, adding that this law is also in vogue in some states of the country.
The minister appealed people to restrain the number of attendants visiting the hospital so that doctors could discharge their duties effectively.
Interacting with the striking doctors, the minister said that a joint meeting of hospital council with the Administration, HoDs, Registrars and students of the Medical Colleges would be convened monthly, adding that their suggestions and opinions would be looked into for bringing improvement in the functioning of the hospital.
He assured that every step would be taken for creating congenial atmosphere in the hospital so that they are able to discharge their duties contently.
He advised doctors to be courteous to the patients and also work with full dedication and commitment during the duty hours.
The striking junior doctors put forth the demand for registering FIRs against persons who had manhandled doctors and medical staff. They hailed the positive response of the minister and called off strike assuring that they shall commit their services for the “best possible patient care”.
