Demands met, docs call off strike

In a late evening decision, the association said the resident doctors had decided to report on duty immediately and the functioning in the OPDs and other departments would be normal from Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the ARD had refused to call off its strike, seeking a public apology from Dr Santhosh Kumar, an assistant professor who had allegedly assaulted a senior resident of the urology department a few days ago.

Dr Santhosh had already submitted his apology to the PGI Director, but the resident doctors were demanding a separate apology to the ARD.

The two other demands of the ARD included disciplinary action against Dr Santhosh and formulation of clear rules so that a similar incident is not repeated in future.

Taking to Newsline, ARD president Dr Prabhu said: 8220;We had raised three specific demands with the authorities, which have been met. We have decided to resume work from today. Dr Santhosh has apologised to the ARD as was demanded.8221;

On Saturday, the association had said it would resume work, but in a late-night meeting on Sunday decided that resident doctors should press for a written apology to the ARD. The association had gone on a mass casual leave on Saturday.

Even as the ARD remained adamant on its stand till 8 pm on Monday, despite a series of meetings with the PGI authorities and Director K K Talwar, the hospital claimed that 60 per cent resident doctors reported to work on Monday. Intensive case units and emergency services were not affected as resident doctors had already decided not to boycott work in these units.

Monday being a holiday, the impact of the strike was less as laboratory services were shut. All planned surgeries were, however, postponed and only emergency cases were taken up.

The controversy sparked off after senior resident Dr Sanand Kumar was allegedly assaulted and abused by Dr Santhosh, assistant professor of the same department, last Wednesday, in front of operation theatre staff and technicians. The tiff began after Dr Santhosh found his patient listed on the second number on the OT list for the day by the resident doctor even though as he had wanted the number 1 slot for him. The professor reportedly lost his cool and abused Dr Sanand. The matter was then reported to the head of the department and the director, PGI.

A three-member committee comprising Dean Prof V Sakhuja, Sub-Dean Prof Amod Gupta and Prof Savita Malhotra of the Department of Psychiatry was appointed to inquire into the matter. The panel found Dr Santhosh guilty of using unparliamentary language. Dr Santhosh has, meanwhile, proceeded on leave.

Earlier in the day, Dr Prabhu had told Newsline: 8220;We have charted out three demands that we expect the PGI to accept. In case they don8217;t, we will not withdraw the strike.8221;

Deputy Director, PGI Administration, A K Gupta said: 8220;The PGI has acted swiftly to settle the case. The committee found the faculty member guilty and he has tendered his apology. He also apologised to the senior doctor today by meeting him personally. We have forwarded the matter to the ministry already. We have already taken a strong view of the strike by the resident doctors and have issued them letters. The services of ad hoc resident doctors who took part in the strike would be terminated.8221;