Bhopal: Junior doctors call off indefinite strike

Junior doctors of Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal called off their three-day-long strike on Friday after they were assured of adequate security arrangements at the hospital.

Junior doctors of Gandhi Medical College (GMC) in Bhopal called off their three-day-long strike on Friday after they were assured of adequate security arrangements at the hospital.

The junior doctors went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday after a relative of a patient attacked their colleagues at Hamidia hospital on Tuesday night. They were demanding arrest of the attacker and imposition of Doctor's Protection Act over him.

Koh-E-Fiza police said they were trying to nab the attacker, Shahrukh Khan, a resident of Roshanpura.

"We decided to call off our strike after most of our demands were fulfilled," said Dr Aditya Lunawat, the vice-president of the Junior Doctors Association (JDA), Bhopal.

He said the hospital administration had enhanced security system and more security guards have been appointed in various entrance gates of Hamidia Hospital.

Dr Lunawat said barricades to block the rush would also be installed on the medical college premises.

With the end of the strike, services at GMC's associated hospitals -- Hamidia and Sultania hospitals - came to normal.

The strike affected the number of patients visiting the outpatient department (OPD) at Hamidia hospital. Some of the surgeries were cancelled because of lack of staff.