Medicos take to streets in Ambala

AMBALA: The doctors associated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Ambala on Monday held a protest march in the city after withdrawing all non-essential services. They also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister and state health minister demanding a law against hospital violence.
Around 9am, several medical practitioners gathered in front of Loomba Hospital from where they started the protest march carrying banners and shouting slogans under the leadership of IMA Ambala Cantonment president Dr Parbhakar Sharma.They marched through Nicholson Road, Sadar Bazaar Chowk, Gurh Mandi, Vegetable Market and other areas.
The protesting doctors said, “We should be given proper security. In West Bengal, doctors are forced to work under constant fear. We have suspended all OPD services while the emergency wings will continue to function. We demand a national law against hospital violence and it should be dealt with seriously.”
On the other hand, government hospital OPDs were closed due to the gazetted holiday of Saint Kabir Jayanti and several government doctors also joined the IMA march.
CMO Ambala Dr SL Verma said, “The emergency services in government hospitals are running normally but the OPD was shut due to holiday. We have deployed additional doctors for emergency services to avoid rush at the hospitals. Some IMA members also visited my office to hand over the memorandum of demands.”
State health minister Anil Vij said, “Giving protection to doctors is the responsibility of the state government.”