Due to the mass leave, scheduled surgeries will not take place
The termination of Dr. Raghav Nirula over allegations of assaulting a patient at IGMC Hospital in Shimla has now triggered a statewide protest by doctors. Opposing the decision, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of IGMC has announced a one-day mass leave today. The Himachal Medical Officers’ Association (HMOA) and the medical college teachers’ body, SAMDCOT, have also come out in support of the doctors.
Due to the mass leave, OPD services will remain closed in government hospitals across the state today, and scheduled surgeries will not take place. Only emergency services will continue, which may cause inconvenience to thousands of patients seeking treatment.
Meanwhile, a senior doctor at IGMC has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a fair and impartial inquiry into the entire matter. All eyes are now on the meeting scheduled today between the RDA and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Doctors have made it clear that if their demands are not addressed positively, the agitation may be escalated into an indefinite strike.
Also Read: Himachal doctors' protest update: Strike called off after meeting CM
State Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (SAMDCOT) General Secretary Dr. Piyush Kapila termed the government’s action "unilateral", stating that completing the inquiry and taking a termination decision within just 24 hours was inappropriate. He questioned why neither the full video footage was made public nor were both sides given a chance to present their version.
It is pertinent to note that on December 22, a video of an altercation between a doctor and a patient at IGMC Shimla went viral on social media. Following this, swift action was taken on the Chief Minister’s instructions, and Dr. Raghav was dismissed from service. However, the police are also conducting a separate investigation into the incident and examining the original video footage.
The RDA has said that working without guarantees of doctors’ safety, dignity, and a fair inquiry at the workplace is becoming increasingly difficult. Key demands of the doctors include equal action against all those at fault, strengthening security arrangements in hospitals, and issuing clear administrative guidelines.
After Dr. Raghav’s termination, the confrontation between the government and doctors continues to intensify, while the issue remains a subject of wide discussion on social media.
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