Strike at Jammu govt hospital over manhandling of doc, patients suffer

Doctors and paramedical staff at the Government Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis Hospital, Jammu on Monday boycotted work after they were allegedly assaulted by some attendants of a patient after his death, on Sunday evening.

Demanding their security, the doctors along with paramedical staff did not join duties and stage a protest in the hospital premises on Monday morning. They suspended the work in all the wings of the hospital, including outpatient department (OPD) and wards.

On an average, around 250 patients visit the OPD wing of the hospital daily as it is the only dedicated hospital to treat respiratory diseases in the Jammu region. On Monday, there were 80 indoor patients in the hospital. In the wake of doctors’ strike, the OPD patients in particular, had to face a lot of inconvenience as they were told to visit other hospitals. Many of them, who came after covering hundreds of kilometers, returned dejected.

“I left my house at around 7 in the morning and after changing conveyance thrice, I was able to reach here and I was told that there is a strike today, I do not what to do now. I do not even have money to stay in the lodge or any other accommodation,” said Munno Devi, 65, who had come to the hospital from Mahore in Reasi district,100 kilometers from here.

“On Sunday evening, 58-yearold Butta Singh, a patient suffering from bilateral extensive disease and respiratory failure, died at the hospital. His kin were explained about the cause of the death, yet they became violent and manhandled duty doctor Mohd Zaheen Khan and some nurses, besides smashing a window screen and damaging the hospital property,” officials said.

After the complaint by the hospital administration, an FIR was registered in the case.

Later in the day, the staff held a meeting with the principal of the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, Dr Sunanda Raina and withdrew the strike.

They were assured by the principal that a case already stands registered and appropriate measures would be taken to avoid such incidents in future.

On Sunday evening, Butta Singh, 58, suffering from bilateral extensive disease and respiratory failure, died at the hospital. His kin were explained about the cause of death, yet they became violent and manhandled doctor on duty. Hospital authorities