With no support from government, resident doctors feel they have only one option: Strike work
Every year, at least one state-run hospital sees resident doctors and the staff strike work because the relatives of a patient has attacked the doctors alleging medical negligence.
For the last 15 years, the Resident Doctors’ Association has been negotiating for more security for doctors and each time the government promises to look into the matter. But no action has been taken.
Upset with the increase in attacks, resident doctors at civic and state run hospitals feel they have no option but to go on strike realising that the poor patients have to face the consequences.
“It is true that we have been demanding security for doctors for the last 15 years. Going on the strike was the only option for us as our meeting with the authorities did not yield much,” said Dr Pankaj Nalwade, president, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors.
But the moot question remains. If the hospital authorities know that such incidents take place, then why do they not provide enough security to the medical staff?
The issue has gained prominence as doctors of all civic-run and state-run hospitals, including KEM, Nair and JJ, on Friday joined the indefinite strike called by Sion hospital to protest the assault on their colleagues. Angered by the death of a 10-month-old girl, her relatives assaulted the on-duty resident doctors at Sion Hospital on Wednesday. The next day, the doctors went on an indefinite strike.
The strike has resulted in chaos at hospitals.
“It is clear that without the resident doctors, no hospital can function smoothly. Why is the government not taking up the doctors’ security issue seriously?” asked Dr Abhay Chowdhary, director, Haffkine Institute.
“The resident doctors are not asking for money, just a safe work environment. In any critical surgery, if patient dies, the relatives fix the blame on the doctor alone. In most cases, the patient is brought to the hospital in a bad condition.”
Dr Shivkumar Utture, former president of the Indian Medical Association and a member of the Maharashtra Medical Council, said: “Incidents of assault on resident doctors are on the rise. The relatives even damage hospital property and create a ruckus in the casualty ward.”
The police are also in the dark about the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, 2008, that states that attacks on doctors is a non-bailable offence, added Dr Utture.
But, Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, feels that most doctor-patient conflicts can be resolved with a fair discussion and proper communication with the relatives. “The demand for more security is not feasible because we cannot provide a security guard for every doctor. We are in talks with a private agency for security on medical college campus. We are doing everything to protect our doctors,” he added.
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