BHUBANESWAR: Patients were having a harrowing time at Veer Surendra Sai Medical College Hospital in western Orissa town of Burla for last three days following the strike of senior doctors and PG students in protest of attack on a senior doctor recently.

While a majority of indoor patients have shifted to nearby government hospitals and private nursing homes, the casualty and outpatient services are made available inconsistently.

The VSS Medical College Hospital provides vital health services in western parts of the State but the attack on the doctor made the matter worse as citizens, students and doctors converged on the issue demanding immediate arrest of culprits and safety for the professionals.

Two armed miscreants had attacked Prasant Kumar Sahoo, the senior most doctor of nephrology department on Thursday last. Dr. Sahoo, however, survived due to immediate medical attention and his subsequent shifting to SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack.

Following the incident, senior doctors and PG students abstained from their duty, which affected the health service.

Bandh call

On Monday, a bandh call was given in Burla town in protest of the incident. Orissa Medical Services Association, Orissa Medical College Teachers' Association, Burla Citizens' Committee and political parties including BJD and BJP had extended their support to the bandh call.

Meanwhile, the State Government declared that one suspected attacker was arrested and steps were being taken to nab his accomplice also.

A health department statement said that the Government was aware of the demands of doctors and these would be fulfilled in a phased manner.

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