HYDERABAD: Elective medical services at Gandhi Hospital in the city resumed from Thursday afternoon after junior doctors called off their strike. Earlier in the day, a few patients had complained of delayed treatment at the Casualty Ward. Junior doctors of the hospital went on strike after three house surgeons were attacked by the attendants and relatives of a patient who died on Tuesday midnight.
Agitated over the attacks and concerned about the security of doctors, members of the Junior Doctors Association—Gandhi Hospital unit resorted to boycott of all elective services including out-patient services and pre-scheduled surgeries.
To resolve the issue, hospital superintendent Dr P Shravan Kumar and RMO Dr Pagolu Solomon held a meeting with JUDA representatives for around three hours. All the while, junior doctors stayed put at the stairs and blocked the way leading to the entrance of the in-patient block. After the meeting ended, Dr Shravan Kumar announced to the protesting junior doctors that JUDA’s demands were justified and would be addressed. “Committees on vigilance, security and grievances will be formed.
Deputy superintendent, three senior professors, one sister and junior doctors will be on the committees. There will be no insistence on written complaints or grievances and junior doctors can lodge their complaints in Whatsapp group,” he said. The superintendent said that the RMO would plan redistribution of security personnel at the hospital. More guards will be deployed at the Casualty Ward and other sensitive places where patients with high-risk health situations will be treated. He assured that they would not withdraw the complaint lodged against those who attacked the junior doctors.
Soon, Furniture for Gandhi Hosp hostel rooms
Reacting to the news story published titled ‘Doctors sleep on the floor at Gandhi Hospital hostels in these columns. The Health and Family department passed instructions for the furniture be bought for the hostels. Officials said that when a meeting was held with junior doctors, Telangana director of Medical Education Dr K Ramesh Reddy spoke about the the issue and called up officials in Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMIDC) to supply cots and other furniture to the hostels. Also, a photo was published where it was stated that the only source of water for hostel students is a water cooler in the kitchen. On Thursday, Superintendent of the hospital Dr P Shravan Kumar said that ports to supply water will be identified and RO plants will be installed at hostels.