Imphal: Protesting the assault of a doctor at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, members of Teachers’ and Medical Officers’ Association (TAMOA), Resident Doctor Association, RIMS students’ Union, Non-teaching Employees Welfare Association and others staged a sit-in rally in front the OPD block, on Monday.
The hospital has been shut down indefinitely for the outpatients since Sunday denouncing the assault of Dr. Pritamkumar, a gynecologist, who is a professor, by a mob.
The doctor was alleged that his negligence led to the death of a 35 years old Chingshubam Ongbi Manju of Liling Chajing Imphal West after a caesarean child birth.
President of TAMOA, Dr. Jitenkumar, told reporters that the association condemned the physical assault to a health care provider. The matter could have been solved peacefully and take legal help without disturbing other patients. “We can understand the suffering of out-patients during the shutdown, but until the working environment become safe and conducive normal duty will be suspended.”
Hospital authority said Dr. Pritam Kumar is still undergoing treatment at Trauma ICU of the hospital.
Teachers’ and Medical Officers’ Association, RIMS on Sunday announced indefinite shutdown of all services of RIMS (OPD, emergency, routine OT and PME) with immediate effect till the culprits are booked, punished and safe working environment is ensured. “Patients already admitted in RIMS will continue to be given due care and attention.”
One-day cease work strike of the Indian Medical Association, Manipur Branch, effective from 6 am on September 23 to 6 am on September 24 has also suspended all routine OPDs, elective surgeries, and diagnostic tests in all private, government, and individual home clinics, including diagnostic centres, across the state.
The Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR), a human rights forum has condemned doctors and hospital authorities for “committing grave human rights violation by RIMS authority”.
The forum had expressed ‘serious concern about a possible nexus between medical practitioners and private hospitals’, raising suspicions that negligence in government facilities is being used to push patients towards private treatment for profit.
Protestors in RIMS during protest demonstrated with placard read as “if we bleed, you bleed, save us, save yourself”, “mob violence kill trust, not people”, “violence has not place to healthcare” and others.
The RIMS fraternity and the authority have not given any comment in reply to the demand of YFPHR till the filing of this report.
However, RIMS authority in a separate statement, issued by its media cell on Sunday, mourned the untimely demise of Manju following complications after a surgical delivery. It said the hospital authority assures that the matter will be reviewed with utmost seriousness, and necessary steps will be taken to ascertain facts and address grievances in a lawful manner. It appealed to all sections of society to maintain peace, respect public institutions, and extend cooperation in resolving the matter through appropriate legal and administrative channels.
