Members of the Indian Medical Association (Bathinda) on Saturday submitted a written complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bathinda. They were demanding an appropriate action to ensure safety of doctors against people harassing doctors, nurses and allied staff by alleging inflated bills and medical negligence.

In the complaint, the IMA said as doctors working in private hospitals or clinics were more prone to attacks by public, the administration and the police must take appropriate action against culprits to deter others from doing so.

Dr Vikas Chhabra, president of IMA, Bathinda, said, “Alleging inflated bills and medical negligence, doctors and medical staff working in private hospitals are subjected to undue harassment. Without any check, incidents of attack on docs and medical staff are taking place again and again.”

Dr Chhabra added, “A new dangerous trend has set in wherein self-proclaimed social activists attack doctors and medical staff at private hospitals. On Friday, a doctor of a private hospital on 100 Feet Road was manhandled by a group of persons accompanied by a self-proclaimed social activist. If doctors would be subjected to threats and harassment very frequently, it would be really difficult for them to discharge their duties diligently. People often start making videos and upload them on social networking websites to tarnish their image.”

IMA members said hooliganism was certainly not the way to get concessions and there were channels such as the consumer court, health department authorities and the administration to resolve these matters.

The IMA also sent a copy of the complaint to the IG Bathinda, the Deputy Commissioner, the DGP, Punjab, and the Finance Minister, Punjab, exhorting them to take appropriate action and ensure the safety of doctors.

Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/bathinda/ima-submits-complaint-to-ssp-seeks-docs-safety/754516.html