Srinagar, Apr 20: As the strike by junior doctors at Lal Ded Hospital entered 4th day Tuesday after an “attack” on their colleague by mob last week, the Government Medical College (GMC) authorities said the medicos would be provided adequate protection.
 The GMC Principal, Dr Shahida Mir said she held deliberations with the junior doctors and assured that adequate security would be provided to them.
 “The doctors are terrorized after the attack and are seeking police protection. We have promised them adequate security measures,” she said.
 “We talked to police authorities and they have promised to provide necessary security,” she added.
 Confirming the development, the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad said police would take adequate measures to ensure security of the doctors.
 However, the striking doctors said the authorities should first put in place the security measures and then only they would resume their duties. 
 Meanwhile, the Junior Doctors Association has proposed to the government to make laws which would curb manhandling of hospital staff on duty.
 “We suggest the government to make a legislation which will prevent abusing of hospital staff on duty, damaging of public property, besides making attacks on hospital staff a cognizable and non-bailable offence on the pattern of various states like Maharashtra and Delhi,” said Dr Mehraj, General Secretary, JDA.
 The doctors demand sufficient number of “police companies for all associated hospitals of GMC for round the clock security to the hospital staff on the pattern of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science and SMGS hospital Jammu.”
 “No male attendant should be allowed to enter the LD hospital as they are responsible for assaults on doctors. Only one attendant with a routine patient and two for seriously ill patients be allowed,” Dr Mehraj said.
 Meanwhile, the patient care services remained affected the LD Hospital.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST