The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Absolute mayhem at maternity hospital

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Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Absolute mayhem at maternity hospital

Doctors shocked; normal work, emergency services come to grinding halt

PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

Using force: A junior doctor being arrested on the High Court road where they staged a dharna on Friday. —

HYDERABAD: It was absolute mayhem at Government Maternity Hospital, Nayapul, on Friday. Window panes were shattered, furniture was broken and beds were trampled upon. Even the labour rooms, operation theatres and recuperation wards were not spared from by the mob. Fear gripped pregnant women, as they scurried for cover and safety.

The attack of the mob, alleged to be the handiwork of the followers of MIM legislator from Charminar Ahmed Pasha Quadri, was of such intensity that patients along with their attendants had to vacate the recovering rooms. The hospital doctors were shell-shocked. Normal work and emergency services came to a grinding halt. The premises sported a desolate look by night.

The hospital premises reverberated with protests and angry arguments between relatives, MIM followers, police and the junior doctors. At one corner, Mr. Quadri, along with followers and relatives of the deceased Zakira Begum, stood firm on their demand for justice. At another corner, the injured house surgeon, along with junior doctors, raised slogans against the attack on the hospital. With emotions running high, the doctors left their normal duties and closeted themselves in closed door meetings.

No admissions

Pregnant women were not given admissions, as they were asked to approach other hospitals. “We don’t want to talk to the Minister. We want the doctor to see my wife. Please, it’s an emergency. She is in advanced stage of pregnancy,” Damodar, a resident of Alijah Kotla, pleaded in vain.

Director of Medical Education A.Y. Chari and other top health officials had a tough time convincing senior doctors of the hospital to report back to their duties. “We will try to manage the situation by asking all the senior doctors to report to their duties immediately,” Dr. Chari said.

Stung by the attack, the junior doctors decided to block the road in front of the hospital. “We want somebody from the government to take moral responsibility for the attack,” said APJUDA (Osmania unit) president K. Rajasekhar.

Minister for Medical Education Galla Aruna Kumari tried to hold talks with the protesting medicos. In a dramatic move, the medicos closed their ears and mouth with hands, symbolising they were not willing to have any talks with the State government. With traffic at both the ends of the road coming to a standstill, the police arrested over 100 medicos.

Immediately after her arrival, the Minister held closed-door meetings with hospital authorities and later with Mr. Quadri. “We will take action against persons who committed this act. We have set up a four-member committee and they will submit a report within a month. “A magisterial enquiry will also be conducted,” she said. Later, the Minister called on the Chief Minister and explained the situation. She also briefed him about the assurance given by the government to provide security at the hospital premises.

Meanwhile, The Andhra Pradesh Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes’ Association (APNA) condemned the attack.In a joint statement, Y.Ravinder Rao, president, N.L.N.Sarma, secretary, and V.S.Rao, president of the city and Ranga Reddy district units, and D.Yadaiah, secretary, described the attack as uncalled for and reprehensible.

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