Doctors, medical staff boycott OPD services over safety concerns

UTTARKASHI: Health services were severely hit after the doctors and medical staff boycotted OPD services in Uttarkashi district hospital on Monday in protest of an incident of misbehavior with hospital staff by a drunkard.

Agitating doctors alleged that a few days after a doctor was attacked by the mob in Dhauntri village of Dunda block over false accusations of a local woman, a drunkard misbehaved with medical staff and created ruckus in the district hospital on 22nd June. However, instead of punishing the culprit, the police released him by imposing a nominal fine on him.

The doctors further alleged that such incidents are on a rise which has led to insecurity among doctors and medical staff.

Doctors threatened to continue protests until police takes strong action against the man accused of misbehaving with hospital staff and ensure safety of medical staff from other anti-social elements.

The protest was called off only after the administration and the police department assured the doctors of fulfilling all their demands.

Dr SP Kudiyal, district president of a local medical association, told TOI, “These incidents have raised insecurity among medicos and has affected the morale of doctors, who work in the hills despite various challenges. Administration and police department should have to take serious steps for the safety of medical staff. Also, steps should be taken to avoid such incidents in future.”

Meanwhile, Ashish Chauhan, Uttarkashi district magistrate, told TOI, “We have directed police department to beef up security in the hospital campus and to appoint jawans inside hospitals during night hours. Besides this, we have also formed a panel of administrative officers and doctors to find out effective safety measures to check such incidents in future.”