CHC doc assault accused nabbed after Health Dept staff warn of stir
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 10
After employees of the Health Department threatened to boycott Out-Patient Department (OPD) services at all government hospitals in the district from Monday, the district rural police finally on Saturday arrested the person accused of assault on an on-duty doctor at Community Health Centre (CHC), Lopoke.
The incident involving assault on paediatrician Dr Jaskaran Singh had occurred at CHC, Lopoke, four days back. Though the police had registered an FIR against the accused the same evening, he had not been arrested.
After meeting several police officials in this regard, the Punjab Civil and Medical Services (PCMS) had announced a boycott of OPD services at all government hospitals from Monday. Had the matter not been resolved on Saturday, it could have put hundreds of poor patients to inconvenience.
Dr Sumitpal Singh, president, district chapter of PCMS Association said, “Incidents of violence against medical staff at government hospitals needs to be taken seriously.” He said that the medical staff at CHC, Lopoke and the aggrieved doctor had been under immense pressure to reach a compromise with the accused.
“Taking no action against a person accused of assault on an on-duty medical professional emboldens such elements. Our purpose of boycotting the OPD services was not to make people suffer but to get justice for the aggrieved doctor,” he said.
General secretary of the Association Dr Madhur Podar said, “The district has 12 CHCs which provide 24X7 medical services. At night sometimes, women employees are on duty and there is no one to ensure their safety.” He said that emergencies during nights mostly include drunken brawls wherein it becomes difficult for the employees to take care of the injured.
“In such circumstances, generally the people accompanying the injured too are drunk and agitated. The government should depute police personnel at all CHCs during the night to ensure that the employees feel safe while performing their duties,” said Dr Podar.
