Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) today threatened that 1,500 doctors in the state would resign en masse on September 1 if security of personnel involved in patient treatment does not improve by August 31.
The decision of OMSA came after two doctors were attacked in Balasore district within the last 24 hours.
Dr Nirakar Bhatt, president of OMSA, said, “If the Security Bill is implemented properly, doctors will be able to work and no disturbances will happen. If things still don't work, we would go for mass resignation.”
“We are getting resignation letters from every district even now,” he said.
As per the gazette notification issued by the Home department in 2009, persons involved in attack on medical personnel or ransacking hospitals can be awarded a jail term of one year to three years or imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.
Meanwhile, OMSA withdrew the the strike it had launched in the wake of the attack on the doctors in Balasore after the interventionof the district administration.
Pramod Kumar Das, Balasore Collector, said, “We will deploy policemen at sensitive places. We hope the working environment of doctors will improve with this move.”
Health Secretary Arati Ahuja, who had urged the Home Department yesterday to open a police outpost in the premises of each district headquarters hospital and sub-divisional hospital in the State, today said; “A police outpost in the premises of the hospital will help avoid such incidents.”
Commenting on security measures for the doctors, KB Singh, DGP, said, “We recommend installation of CCTV cameras at the counselling place of doctors and other sensitive places. Besides, the nearest police stations have been asked to patrol hospitals during the lonely hours such as afternoon or evening time.”
Relatives of patients yesterday attacked Medicine Specialist Dr Bharat Samal working at the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital and Soro Medical Officer Dr Debashis Nayak alleging delay in treatment of their patients.