The Hindu : New Delhi News : Medical services at LNJP hit

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Thursday, Apr 12, 2007
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New Delhi

Medical services at LNJP hit

Staff Reporter

Alleged manhandling of a doctor by relatives of a patient

NEW DELHI: Work at Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital, Guru Nanak Eye Care Centre and Sushrut Trauma Centre remained paralysed on Wednesday with resident doctors, nurses and medical students going on an indefinite strike following alleged manhandling of a doctor by the relatives of a patient on Tuesday night.

The medicos on strike are demanding additional security and better working conditions in the hospitals.

Jitendra Singhal, president of the Resident Doctors' Association of Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, said: "Though patients were caught unaware and faced problems, they have to understand that medical staff here is under constant threat from the relatives of patients. Last night's incident was not the first time a doctor was manhandled. We demand more security and until we are given a written assurance about the same the strike will continue.''

Reminders

Doctors claimed that cases of medicos being manhandled were on the rise. "Despite several reminders proper security has not been provided to the staff. We were forced to go on a strike after the relatives of a patient barged into the emergency room on Tuesday night and threatened the doctor on duty to first attend to their patient,'' added Dr. Singhal.

Delhi Health Secretary D. S. Negi met the medical staff on strike and assured them that additional security -- about 50 Home Guards -- would be deployed at the hospital with immediate effect. "We have also cancelled the contract of the security agency that is in service at Lok Nayak Hospital now and will look into the working condition of the staff there,'' said Mr. Negi.

"This is not the first incident here. Patients' relatives come in, threaten and manhandle the staff, including the nurses on duty. The security personnel provided aren't adequate. There is also shortage of orderlies and sanitation staff and the basic equipment is not provided to the doctors to work with,'' said Abhishek Bansal, president of the students' union of Maulana Azad Medical College.

K. K. Ram Teke, Medical Superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital, said the matter was being looked into and senior doctors were working on a contingency plan.

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