Resident doctors protest over security issues

Resident doctors working in government hospitals Friday staged a protest following the delay in improving security conditions in hospitals here.

As a part of the protest, they have also decided to refrain from any kind of clinical work in the hospitals they work in.

"We are no more going to wait for the government's reply. It has been proved that they consider our problem too tiny to be taken seriously. This is shameful," said Balwinder Singh, president, Federation Of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA).

The FORDA in a letter dated Feb 12 had urged union Health Minister J.P Nadda to improve the security conditions, availability of life saving drugs, surgical equipment and surgical consumables in government hospitals.

Doctors said if the government doesn't pay heed to the letter, they will call for an indefinite strike.

In the letter, the association stated that the lack of security in the hospitals has left the doctors open to assaults from patients' attendants.

"The situation in the government hospitals has turned so bad that even pickpockets and thieves are roaming in the hospitals stealing patients' belongings and cash," Balwinder told IANS.