STRIKE @ HOSPITAL

Doctors' agitation paralyses hospital in Dinhata

COOCH BEHAR, June 2: The doctors of Dinhata Sub-divisional Hospital observed a cease-work agitation at the hospital today. As a part of their agitation they denied attending the outpatients department (OPD). Due to their strike the normal functioning of the hospital suffered a lot today. The doctors however ran a parallel 'outdoor' at the hospital today to attend the emergency cases. The doctors observed the strike following yesterday's demonstration organised by the Forward Bloc and the CPI-M.

Yesterday, the FB and CPI-M activists led by Mr Udayan Guha and Mr Benu Badal Chakraborty staged demonstrations at the Dinhata Sub-divisional Hospital. They were protesting against bad diets, poor services and irregularities. During the agitation some agitated men threw rotten potatoes and other rotten vegetables to the hospital superintendent and the doctors. They picked up those rotten items from the hospital kitchen. The superintendent, Dr Pranab Kumar Roy assured the agitators that he would convey their grievances and complaints to the higher authorities.

Today the health service doctors of the hospital observed a daylong strike alleging that during the demonstration doctors on duty were manhandled. They demanded security of the doctors on duty.

The local private practitioners of Dinhata however attended their chambers as usual today. Condemning the attack on doctors at the hospital, IMA member Dr Bidyut Kamal Saha said the private practitioners attended the patients at their chambers due to social responsibility. "We do not support the hooliganism but as we are local citizens we cannot abstain from our duty to the suffering people", Dr Saha added.

When asked, the Cooch Behar CMOH Dr Radha Raman Banik said the doctors of Dinhata hospital observed a token strike at the OPD today but attended emergency patients. They are suffering from fear psychosis. A police picket has been posted at the hospital premises from yesterday evening.

Dr Banik said the superintendent of Dinhata hospital Dr Pranab Kumar Roy expressed his unwillingness to continue in his existing post. He already submitted a letter conveying his desire. Dr Roy is now under medical care at MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar, the CMOH said. Dr Sujan Mandol too was manhandled during the demonstration, he added. Following yesterday's happenings he ordered an inquiry into the incident, Dr Banik said.

The CMOH said he reported the matter to the district magistrate Ms Smaraki Mahapatra today and asked her to arrange setting up of police outposts at all the sub-divisional hospitals.