Chandigarh Oct 16
Around 400 doctors at the Postgraduate Institute (PGI) complex participated in a 12-hour protest called by the Association of Resident Doctors in solidarity with their counterparts in Kolkata. The protest included a hunger strike by 10 doctors, while most others joined during off-duty hours to avoid disrupting essential medical services.
The Emergency, Advanced Trauma Centre, and critical departments functioned normally, but OPD services were partially affected. New patient registrations at OPDs were suspended, and follow-up registrations were cut short by an hour. While patient turnout was lower than usual due to the prior announcement of the strike, some patients, especially those from distant areas, faced inconveniences.
The protest was held to demand justice for a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, as well as for enhanced security for medical staff.
Despite the protest, PGI authorities reported that 80% of doctors reported for duty, ensuring that patient care was not compromised. The OPD attended to 4,852 patients, while emergency services and critical procedures continued without interruption.
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