Principal secy’s visit hits strike plan in Jhansi govt med facilities

Jhansi: Even as most resident doctors working in private medical facilities abstained from work in protest on Monday, two of the biggest government hospitals in Jhansi— Jhansi Medical College and the District Hospital—continued to function with clockwork efficiency.
Reason: The scheduled two-day visit of UP principal secretary (urban development) Manoj Kumar Singh to the district to inspect developmental projects.Extending their emotional support to the cause, junior resident doctors did not observe the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) call for a nationwide strike in protest against the attack on a Kolkata doctor.
After a brief interruption due to a group of protesting resident doctors, things remained calm at Jhansi Medical College. When TOI team visited the wards of the hospital, doctors were seen tending to patients while wearing black ribbons on their arms in support of the ongoing agitation of medicos across the country.
Chief medical superintendent of Jhansi Medical College Harish Chandra Arya, said, “Both resident and senior doctors of the medical college reported to duty. On Monday, we treated 28,015 patients in the OPD and 28 in general ward. We also received 35 emergency cases.”
Former principal of Jhansi Medical College and head of nephrology department, who was present on the campus to conduct a viva voce examination, Dr NS Sengar said, “We are government employees so we have to follow certain rules. Hence, we did not join the agitation. However, we support the agitation in spirit as it is a serious matter requiring immediate attention. Most doctors are scared of tending to patients brought to them in a serious condition, simply out of fear of attendants.” Likewise at Jhansi District Hospital, patients had no problem seeking doctors. The principal secretary also visited the district hospital on Monday. Talking to media persons, Singh said he was satisfied with the hospital’s functioning and its staff. “I’ve pointed out some minor shortcomings, which I have been assured will be rectified soon,” he said.
Orthopaedic specialist at Jhansi District Hospital Dr Rajive Singh Bhadauria said, “We support the strike emotionally, but as principal secretary’s visit was a scheduled one we had to carry on working.”
Meanwhile, over three hundred private doctors, led by Indian Medical Association’s Jhansi chapter Dr Ramesh Chandra, took out a protest march from Jhansi Medical College’s gate number 3. They demanding stricter laws to curb the rising attacks on doctors by patients’ families. “We have suspended all OPDs for 24 hours, but emergency patients will be treated. All clinics and private nursing homes have pledged support to IMA’s cause,” said Chandra.