Kozhikode: The doctors in the district, working in both government and private sectors, abstained from duty on Wednesday protesting against the police inaction in apprehending the attackers of RMO, Asha Hospital, Vadakara.
The strike called by Indian Medical Association hit patients as the OP wing did not function in most of the hospitals. Emergency services and immunisation drive were exempted.
The incident happened on April 23 when RMO Dr Anuraj was allegedly manhandled and taken away in an ambulance from the hospital by a group of 12 people accusing him of giving a wrong injection to a patient, who had complained of migraine. After the injection, he developed shivering, but that was quite natural and there was no negligence on the part of the doctor, said the IMA.
IMA state president Dr V.G. Pradeep Kumar said that the strike was total. “The overall participation indicates the dissatisfaction of physicians in the issue. Without ensuring a free and fearless environment, no doctor could work. Medical teams are exempted even in war zones,” he said. The IMA warned that if proper action was not taken, it would intensify the protest. Other organizations like KGMOA, KGMCTA and QPMPA have supported the strike.
The OP did not function at the government beach hospital, women and children hospital at Kottaparambu and most of the private hospitals. Though OP functioned at medical college hospital, doctors worked tagging black badges. The doctors held a sit-in in front of the collectorate.
The IMA officials said that the doctors at the medical college had also found that there was no mistake in the injection. “Forcibly taking away a doctor in a vehicle is unheard of in the history of Kerala. On the same day, the police had questioned the accused. But no arrest has been made,” alleged Dr Pradeep Kumar.
The IMA had also submitted a petition in the High Court on this regard. Earlier, complaints were submitted to the Vadakara police station, rural SP, ADM and the chief minister’s office.
