Patient care services at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu, have been severely disrupted for a second consecutive day following an ongoing strike by junior doctors. The strike was sparked by the alleged assault of two female doctors by a patient’s relative, raising significant concerns about patient safety and continuity of care.
The industrial action has brought key services to a standstill, including outpatient care, in-patient treatment, and elective surgeries. While senior doctors and consultants are struggling to manage emergency services, the limited staff has placed immense pressure on the system, jeopardizing patient well-being.
Tensions escalated further with a heated confrontation between the striking doctors and the family of a deceased patient. Resident doctors accuse the patient’s kin of physically assaulting their colleagues, while the deceased’s family counters with allegations of medical negligence leading to the death.
In a unified display of anger, junior doctors staged a protest outside the Emergency Ward. They held placards and chanted slogans, vowing not to resume duties until the accused assailant is immediately arrested. “Our colleagues were assaulted while discharging their duties. We demand immediate police action. Until the arrest is made, we will not return to work,” stated one protesting doctor.
To mitigate the crisis, senior faculty members have stepped in to fill the operational void. Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu, assured the public that the administration is doing everything possible to manage the situation. “Our senior doctors are managing the hospital operations. We are prioritizing emergency cases to ensure no critically ill patient suffers,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Secretary of Health and Medical Education, held a late-night meeting on Wednesday with representatives of the striking doctors. He urged them to return to work for the sake of public health and promised strict legal action against those found guilty. However, the doctors remain resolute, insisting that negotiations will not proceed until the accused is apprehended.
As the strike continues, hundreds of patients and their families face mounting inconvenience and uncertainty, with routine operations in disarray. With no arrests made or breakthroughs in talks reported, the stalemate threatens to prolong the disruption.
This unfolding situation has reignited the critical debate surrounding workplace safety for medical professionals and underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures in government hospitals.
