This story is from June 18, 2019

Private OPDs shut as doctors protest across North Karnataka

Private OPDs shut as doctors protest across North Karnataka
HUBBALLI/ DHARWAD/ BELAGAVI: Outpatient departments in private hospital were shut across North Karnataka in response to a protest call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) over the assault of doctors in West Bengal.
Over 100 private doctors in clinics and hospitals of Hubballi-Dharwad were off duty to protest the attack on doctors. They withdrew consultancy for non-emergency cases for the day.

However, emergency services at private hospitals were kept open. Only the outpatient departments of Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences and Chitaguppi Hospital functioned on Monday. Doctors at government hospitals were in attendance as the state government had issued orders against their participation in the protest. Expecting a heavy rush at the OPD, KIMS deployed additional staff at all their 22 departments. On Monday, there were 140 doctors on OPD duty against the daily average of 90.
Dr Ramalingappa, director, KIMS, said: “Comparatively, there were less patients this Monday. Presuming non-availability of doctors, patients might have not come to the hospital. On an average, we get 2,500-2,800 outpatients. However today, the number did not even cross 2,000 which includes new patients,” he said.
Contrary to their assurance, more than 800 postgraduate students, final-year MBBS students and interns of KIMS participated in a silent protest on the hospital premises. Chitaguppi Hospital witnessed more number of patients.
In Belagavi, hundreds of doctors and medical students took out a rally from Bogarves to the deputy commissioner’s office. Some of them had their heads bandaged and sported black armbands. The closure of outpatient departments at private hospital resulted in a rush at BIMS District Government Hospital where doctors struggled to clear the crowd.

Dr H B Rajashekhar said the government should provide security to doctors. District president of Indian Medical Association Dr Milind Halgekar said that the government must give priority to the safety of doctors. Dr V D Patil termed the attack on doctors shameful and sought the PM’s intervention in the issue. The protesters submitted a memorandum to DC S B Bommanahalli who promised security to doctors in Belagavi district.
Members of IMA’s Haveri unit condemned the attack and demanded an apology from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Unit president Dr Mrutyunjay Turakani said, “Assaults on medical professionals demoralise the healthcare sector and discourage us to take risk in critical situations.”
The Vijayapura unit of Indian Dental Association also joined the protest on Monday. Hospitals with in-patient facilities were open for emergency cases.
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