SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Aug 10: Private doctors and hospital operators of Dhanbad have decided to shut down their institutions and clinics from tomorrow (Wednesday) till the safety cover is provided. In Dhanbad, 302 private hospitals and health clinics are registered with the health department.
Rattled by the increasing attacks on doctors and their family members, the doctors’ body Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dhanbad chapter, has decided to shut down hospitals and clinics in protest. The decision was taken after a delegation of IMA met victims Dr Umashankar Singh and his son Kumar Chandan at their Katras residence on Monday evening.
IMA district chapter president Dr Major Chandan and secretary Dr Sushil Kumar said that even after an FIR was lodged in the police station, assaulters of doctors have been roaming freely. So, doctors have left with no option but to shut down hospitals as well as clinics for safety.
After the death of a patient, family members and their relatives had attacked Nichitpur hospital on July 21. Irate people also beat up Dr Umashankar Singh and hospital staff. In this connection, Dr Singh had lodged an FIR against Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) local leader Karu Singh and others.
“ Even after 21 days of the FIR, the police have not arrested any criminal so far. Encouraged by police lackadaisical approach, the accused of the July 21 incident again launched a fatal attack on the doctor’s son and granddaughter on Sunday night ( August 8). So, the IMA is compelled to take a drastic step,” said Dr Chandan and Dr Sushil Kumar.
The IMA has sought an appointment with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjiv Kumar over rising assaults on doctors and their family members.
