Hyderabad: Twenty-one cases of assault on doctors and 94 incidents of relatives protesting outside hospitals took place in Telangana last year. The figures were released by the Indian Medical Association. The IMA has said that violence against doctors has become major problem nationwide and demanded the guilty be booked and punished.
Senior doctors say relatives are offered counselling if patients are not responding positively to treatment. But that hasn’t stopped some from resorting to violence.
Dr T. Narasinga Reddy, the state president of the TS IMA said: “When patients are critical, the immediate family and other relatives are given proper counselling – about the various medical complications involved. But despite this, there’s a problem. It has been noted that relatives of deceased patients are often instigated by anti-social elements and the violence thereof has also led to damage of hospital equipment. This is becoming a very regular problem, which needs the government’s immediate attention.”
In Telangana alone, 29 cases have been booked by the police against the-se anti-social elements. Dr B. Narender Reddy, president of the Telan-gana Hospitals and Nurs-ing Homes Association said: “Medical professionals are facing increasing threats and it has become difficult for many to carry out normal practice. People also – without grounds — question the competence of doctors and that is plain distressing. This has to be stopped and clear guidelines and protocols must be laid down by the government and law enforcement agencies.”
Doctors have also sought the introduction of harsh laws that can act as deterrents – to stop relatives and kin from attacking on-duty professionals and hospital equipment.
5 swine flu cases in one day, total 20
Five cases of swine flu were reported in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases in Telangana to 20. Two cases are from Ranga Reddy, one is from Abids and the two cases are from Mahbubnagar.
The patients from Mahbubnagar are undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital while others are seeking treatment at private hospitals in the city. With temperatures remaining low, health officials are saying the virus is targeting those with weak immunity. Relatives and family members are being provided ith proflax tablets to control the spread of the virus.
