GUWAHATI: Extending their solidarity towards doctors of West Bengal who have been facing violence over the past few days, doctors and students of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) took part in a demonstration at the GMCH premises on Friday, June 14.
The doctors, students as well as interns took part in the demonstration protest which began at around 9 am on Friday and ended around 6 pm. They protested against the violence against doctors in West Bengal and have demanded immediate and strict action against the perpetrators.
Further, medical students also organised a space for an open mic session and signature campaign. The students and doctors held placards and also formed a human chain in the GMCH premises.
However, no emergency or OPD services were affected due to this, informed members of the GMCH students’ union.
Apart from GMCH, the doctors and students at all six government medical colleges at Dibrugarh, Silchar, Tezpur, Barpeta and Jorhat also organised similar protests at their respective premises.
Dr Dipanjan Goswami, General Secretary of Junior Doctors’ Association informed G Plus that around 200 professors, doctors, students and interns had participated in the protest.
“These kinds of incidents are happening rampantly with regularity in each state and district. Mob attacks on doctors have become a regular occurrence and people are turning a blind eye to our issues,” said Goswami.
He added that the patients feel that doctors can save each and every patient who come to them.
“The mentality of the patients should change and they should bring them to the hospital on time when there are still chances to save them. But critically ill patients have less chances of survival,” mentioned Goswami.
The doctors on Friday also demanded safety of doctors in Assam and also asked that Assam Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Protection of Violence and Damage to Property) Act should be properly implemented in its true spirit in Assam.
“Even if someone is caught for harassment and violence against doctors or hospitals, they are let off easily and are not convicted. The government needs to take some bold steps against such activities,” said a student of GMCH.
Junior doctors in West Bengal are on a strike since Tuesday after two doctors were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata following the death of a patient.
According to reports, the matter then snowballed quickly in West Bengal as the strike affected medical services in the state with all major medical colleges and hospitals taking part in the strike.
On the other hand, the medical students, doctors and interns have been facing death and rape threats. Further, the situation in major medical colleges also turned violent after reports of mob attacks surfaced from some places.
Further, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Assam State Branch also condemned the attacks on doctors and hospitals. State president Dr Satyajit Borah and members of IMA Assam condemned the growing trend of intolerance against poor outcome and medical treatment and subsequent assault on doctors and ransacking of hospital property.
They also expressed their concern over the lukewarm response on the part of law enforcing agencies resulting in the release of culprits after a few days of police custody.
