Doctors at PGIMER in Chandigarh continue their protest, condemning the recent rape and murder case involving a doctor in Kolkata.
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 16 : In the wake of nationwide protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, medical professionals at Chandigarh PGIMER continued their protest on Friday. The doctors have declared that they will persist with the protest until justice is served.
Patients visiting Chandigarh PGIMER have reported significant difficulties due to the ongoing five-day protest and have urged the government to meet the doctors' demands.
"We are facing many challenges because the OPD is closed. We traveled a long way to get here," said Nitin, a patient.
"If the OPD is closed, we should have been informed in advance. Now that we're here, our old card was used for the checkup, but we can't get a new card to see a different doctor, so we’ll have to return," explained Pushpa, another patient.
"We’ve been here since last night, but no one is addressing our concerns, and the doctors aren't attending to us. The government needs to address the doctors' demands so that the strike can end," said Gurpreet, a patient.
Meanwhile, the doctors have emphasized the importance of their safety and are calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident.
"This is the fifth day of our protest. We doctors are demanding justice and a CBI investigation. We are also urging the government to enact new safety legislation for us," said Dr. Praneet Reddy.
"If a doctor isn't safe in their workplace, then where can they be safe?" questioned Dr. Prerna.
Additionally, the Resident Doctors Association at Government Medical College in Amritsar, Punjab, has announced the suspension of all non-essential and elective hospital services, including Outpatient Departments, Operating Theaters, and wards, starting August 16 and continuing until further notice.