Medical facilities in Varanasi paralysed with docs on strike

On March 5 late evening,the 108 ambulance service rushed in three accident victims to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay District Hospital,including one Chhedilal,who was a retired employee of Banaras Hindu University. The doctor on emergency duty,Dr Rajesh Singh,claimed that Chhedilal was brought dead,so he started attending to the other two injured. However,Chhedilal’s family members,who are also associated with the Bhartiya Janata Party,accused the doctor of negligence and allegedly beat him up,apart from causing damage to hospital property. After the incident,local BJP MLA Jyotsna Srivastava’s son Saurabh Srivastava sat on a protest against the doctors.

An FIR was lodged against the accused including Chhedilal’s son Gautam,brother Ashok Patel,who is associated with the BJP,one Amit Rai,and others. On Thursday,Patel and Rai were also arrested.

“A case has been lodged against four people and two of them have already been arrested. A police team has gone to arrest the other two,” said G L Meena,IG,Varanasi. Some people from Chhedilal’s family also met Meena on Thursday,complaining against the doctors of the hospital. “I have sent the complaint for further inquiry,” said the IG,adding that the investigation is going on in the case.

On Tuesday night,following the incident,the doctors closed down the emergency facilities of the DDU district hospital. Wednesday onwards,the Provincial Medical Service Association has called for a district wide suspension of OPD services,keeping only emergency services functional. Even private practitioners,associated with Indian Medical Association’s Varanasi chapter,closed down nursing homes and private hospitals,paralysing the services further.

“We are demanding that all the accused be arrested and their bail petitions be firmly opposed by the public prosecutor. We are also demanding immediate implementation of Medical Protection Act in the state,” said Dr Singh.