After lady dies, doctors call off 2 day strike
After deliberation and discussions that continued for almost two days and after the loss of one life on Wednesday, protesting medicos Friday called off their strike. The two day strike meant difficult days for five major hospitals in the City.
It all happened after the incident when an attendant, who was later identified as a cop thrashed an on duty doctor, Owais Wani. The medicos immediately went on strike, demanding action against erring cop.
Principal GMC, Dr. Samia Rashid while confirming the development said that “yes, they (doctors) have called off the strike.”
The short term doctors strike also resulted in the loss of one life on Wednesday night when the patient was given an injection which resulted in certain reaction, with no doctor around to attend to the patient, the lady identified as Maimuna breathed her last.
Earlier, yesterday, Divisional Commissioner had assured the doctors on strike that a time bound inquiry in this matter will be ordered, and later had demanded a report from IGP Kashmir in fifteen days, who assigned SSP Srinagar to conduct the inquiry and submit the report within set time frame.
In addition to this, police, in order to ensure that safety of the doctors deputed seventeen police personnel in the hospital, who reported in GMC on Friday.
Patients, especially ones in In-Patient Department (IPD) and Out Patient Department (OPD) at SMHS had to face immense difficulties during the strike period, however, the causality and other emergency operations were running smoothly.
Other hospitals like, Lalla Ded Hospital and Bone and Joint Hospital also had to face a tough time during these two days. LD had to postpone several surgeries due to the non availability of doctors, and patients were sent home. Only the emergency cases were taken up. “Many patients were sent home, as there was acute shortage of doctors,” said MS Lalla Ded Hospital, Dr. Nazir Malik.
Sources yesterday said that Lalla Ded Hospital was facing tough time dealing with the operation of USG, as there was no sonologist available to operate the machine.
However, calling off the strike has brought about great relief for people in general and authorities in particular. “This is indeed a relief, we had to suffer for two days,” said Abdul Qayoom, who was attending his mother at SMHS hospital.
KV Correspondent
