Balasore DHH doctors call off cease work

Balasore: Doctors at the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) today called off their cease work agitation hours after it started this morning to protest the assault on a senior doctor at the hospital yesterday.

The medicos withdrew their stir after district Collector Pramod Kumar Das intervened in the matter and assured them to fulfill their demand for security to the doctors. The Additional SP and the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) were also present at the meeting with the doctors held at the Collector’s residential office.

Notably, tension prevailed at the hospital on Friday night after family members of a patient, who died at the hospital, assaulted Dr Bharat Samal holding him responsible for the death.

Krishna Dey of Balgopalpur in Remuna area was admitted to the hospital in serious condition. Dr Samal, who was on emergency duty, referred him to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. However, the patient died soon therefater. Angry over this, his family members beat up the doctor with an iron rod, following which Dr Samal sustained head injuries.

Protesting against such vandalism, medicos had resorted to cease-work stir demanding security this morning.

On the other hand, police have started investigation into the matter and have detained the father of the deceased patient.

In a similar incident, medical officer Dr Debashis Nayak of the Soro Community Health Centre (CHC) was allegedly beaten up with sandals by family members of a patient on Friday. As per the complaint lodged at the Soro police station, Jagannath Rout of Talanagar village, who had consumed poison, was admitted to the health centre. After giving him preliminary treatment, Dr Nayak recommended his shifting to the DHH. This triggered a heated argument between the patient’s family and the doctor which resulted in an assault on the doctor.