Civil Hospital employees demand security after two groups clash

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 3

The clash between two groups at the Civil Hospital has once again brought to fore the vulnerability of the health institution employees and patients to such miscreants. The employees said they had demanded extra security at the hospital, especially emergency block, during night whenever such an incident occurred.

They victims of brawls reported at the hospital were often drunk and they created ruckus during the treatment process. “The situation goes out of hand when the members of both the groups involved in a clash start gathering while doctors are treating them,” said an employee.

Earlier, too, instances where either hospital staff was manhandled or two groups clashed with each other have been reported from the hospital. In one of such incidents two years ago, a senior doctor of the hospital was manhandled and bundled in a vehicle as the relatives of an injured person had accused him of not being serious while giving treatment.

Hospital’s Senior Medical Officer, Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai, said the employees, especially females, were worried after such incidents. He said, “The employees have to stay at the hospital throughout the night and to instill a sense of security among them, it is important that such miscreants are dealt with seriously by the police.”

Earlier in July last year, Dr Ghai had faced a similar situation when a few persons had barged inside in his office and misbehaved with him over the issue of getting an anti- rabies vaccine. Later, the hospital employees had initiated a protest to demand a permanent police post after which two policemen were assigned the duty to guard the emergency area.