PGI docs call off strike, to resume work today

The senior residents at the PGI called off their strike after observing one-day mass casual leave following a controversy in which the Urology department's assistant professor allegedly slapped and shouted at a senior resident.

The senior residents at the PGI called off their strike after observing one-day mass casual leave following a controversy in which the Urology department8217;s assistant professor allegedly slapped and shouted at a senior resident.

A single day of the absence of as many as 800 resident doctors severely paralysed the normal OPD functioning at the institute. All the scheduled surgeries were cancelled as most of the rooms of the senior residents remained locked in the OPD block. The senior faculty too attended far lesser number of patients than the usual days. It was only the emergency and the ICU services that were not affected during the day.

After the late evening meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors ARD, Dr Prabhu Shanker, president of the association, said, 8220;In the larger interest of patients, we have decided to abort the strike and resume work from Sunday. The director has promised us that the matter will be taken up at the level of the health minister.8221;

Despite a written apology by the consultant, the residents want the matter to be taken to the Health Minister for a disciplinary action. They are also seeking a public apology from him.

The incident occurred when Dr Sanand Kumar, senior resident, Urology, was allegedly assaulted and abused by Dr Santosh Kumar, assistant professor of the same department, in front of the hospital staff. The tiff began after Dr Santosh found his patient was listed number two by the resident doctor in the operation theatre list for the day even as he had wanted him to be on the number one slot. Reportedly, the professor lost his cool and he abused the senior resident for making the change without telling him.

The 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. Dr Santhosh was found guilty of using unparliamentary language in the heat of the moment and was asked to proceed on leave.

8220;We have examined the case closely. The consultant has admitted that he misbehaved in a fit of rage and has now tendered his unconditional apology in writing. He even went to Dr Sanand Kumar8217;s hostel to aplogise, but the resident doctor was not there,8221; said Prof Amod Gupta.