‘Insecure’,doctors hold SSKM to ransom

It all began on Saturday evening when four doctors were allegedly manhandled by the relatives of an infant who was admitted to the hospital’s neo-natal care unit a week ago.

It has been alleged that an altercation broke out between the families and a post-graduate trainee doctor Priyanka Sinha after they enquired about the health of the child who had been on a ventilator for nearly a week.

The child’s family also allegedly tried to strangulate the trainee doctor that led to quarrel with more doctors rushing to the spot. With the situation turning volatile,police had to resort to lathicharge to bring the situation under control.

Demanding security from the hospital authorities,the junior doctors along with hospital staff and those doing internship called an indefinite strike.

While the authorities have asked the doctors to withdraw their strike and come to the negotiation table,the junior doctors,on the other hand,are insisting that the hospital administration first ensure their safety.

On Sunday,the situation turned worse. Mohd Saddam,a three-year-old boy,died at SSKM Hospital. He had fallen from the terrace of his home and was brought to hospital at 3 am. The relatives of the child alleged that the doctors on strike did not treat the child properly and he succumbed to his injuries.

In another case,five-year-old Seuili Adhikari who has been suffering from diarrohea was refused admission to the hospital. On Saturday midnight,her parents brought her from Akra in South-24 Parganas,but was refused admission.

Today at 3 pm,her parents tried their luck for the second time but to no avail.

Those inside the hospital complained about not being treated properly. For example,no doctor attended Jayprakash Jha,who was admitted to the hospital’s chest ward on Saturday with fluid in his abdomen.

“There is no infrastructure at the hospital and even with the best of intentions of a doctor he or she cannot help the patients. The relatives of the patients vent their anger against the junior doctors for no fault of theirs,” said Soumabha Chatterjee,a student leader at SSKM Hospital .

“The hospitals are mostly run by junior doctors and they have to be on the receiving end of angry relatives,” Chatterjee added.