The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Services hit at Gandhi Hospital

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Saturday, Jun 13, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Services hit at Gandhi Hospital

Staff Reporter

Junior doctors to intensify strike if attackers are not arrested

- PHOTOs: NAGARA GOPAL

Strident note: Agitating junior doctors of Gandhi Hospital staging a protest at the hospital premises on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Patients in the hospital and commuters on the road suffered as the strike by junior doctors of Gandhi Hospital entered the third day on Friday when the agitators blocked traffic on the bustling Musheerabad main road prompting police to evacuate them forcibly.

The agitating junior doctors who squatted on the road disrupting traffic resisted the arrest, while raising slogans against the government.

They questioned the police as to what prevented them from arresting those who ransacked the hospital and manhandled their colleagues three days ago. They threatened to intensify the agitation if the ‘attackers’ were not arrested by Monday.

Preventive arrests

The preventive arrests provoked the junior doctors to block all the emergency services, apart from the outpatient and inpatient facilities leaving the patients to their fate. With Friday being the outpatient day, the outpatient wing of the hospital overflowed with patients, even as the senior doctors tried their best to hold fort and maintain the medical services. For thirty-year-old pregnant woman Sharada from Moula Ali Housing Board colony it was disappointment for the third consecutive day.

She was suffering from acute abdominal pain. On Wednesday and Thursday, she returned home as the queues were too long. Friday was no different. “Why cannot the doctors and government understand problems of helpless patients like me,” she said wryly heading for the house without treatment.

Middle-aged Joseph from Jagadirigutta had been coming to the hospital for past two days for final check-up of his fractured leg.

“I had to spend Rs. 200 towards auto-rickshaw fares on each day. Will the striking doctors return me the money,” he asked angrily. Attendants of several patients, whose surgeries were postponed due to the strike, were worried. Sri Lata from Secunderabad whose husband was to be operated for intestine-related problem was one of them. “At least they can relieve us from the mental torture”

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