Gandhi hospital doctors’ protest after assault of medical student continues, demand security

News: On 9 June, after a PG medical student was  allegedly attacked by attendants of a deceased COVID-19 patient, around 500 junior doctors of Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad staged a protest outside the hospital building that has continued till date.

Here are five components of the story:

• According to a report by The Hindu, the doctors’ boycott of duties and protest will continue until they receive a favourable response to their demand to decentralise COVID cases (distribution to various hospitals). They have also demanded better protection for them at the hospital.
• The alleged attack was following the death of one of the patients, a 55-year-old Covid-19 patient, at around 6.30 pm. The patient’s attendants had been advised that the patient had a very poor prognosis ,very little chance of recovery, and that the patient should not to leave the bed.
• Two of the attendants came into the hospital breaching the security. They went inside the room and then came to the doctor’s station and beat us up with a plastic stool and an iron rod,” a junior doctor said, adding that he was saved only because other doctors and staff locked up the room.

• The doctors also submitted a memorandum to the state health minister and chief minister demanding increased security and immediate recruitment of additional staff.
• A junior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said they were aware that it was not the time to protest but alleged that they were being bullied into staying silent. “Not a single recruitment has taken place since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Even after three months, authorities are sitting relaxed. It is an impending disaster to happen,” he told IndianExpress.com.