MY hospital standoff: Junior docs to send postcards to draw CM attention

The Junior Doctors Association has found a unique way to draw the chief minister’s attention to the issue of security at MY Hospital—medical students and junior doctors of government medical colleges will send out more than 500 postcards a day to the chief minister, women’s commission and the human rights commission of the state with their concerns.

The Junior Doctors Association has found a unique way to draw the chief minister’s attention to the issue of security at MY Hospital—medical students and junior doctors of government medical colleges will send out more than 500 postcards a day to the chief minister, women’s commission and the human rights commission of the state with their concerns.

JDA-members-meet-the-divisional-commissioner-Sanjay-Dubey-at-MY-Hospital-in-Indore-on-Saturday-Shankar-Mourya-HT-photo

“We have tried reaching all senior officials. But when all failed, we decided to start with this mission as we want the chief minister to understand the gravity of the entire matter and how sensitive it is for us,” said Dr Mohit Naredi, president, Junior Doctors Association (JDA).

Refusing to go to work on day-four of the mass leave, the doctors continued to support their demand for the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at MY Hospital.

In addition to a meeting with former health minister Mahendra Hardia, the members also raised the issue with divisional commissioner Sanjay Dubey.

“I requested the doctors to come and join the hospital but they are adamant on a demand which is difficult to be fulfilled. Moreover, the decision of deploying the CISF is a decision in the hands of the Central government. We cannot do anything in that regard,” said Dubey.

“The deployment of CISF is a big expense. Who is going to afford the cost? Moreover, the place does not require such high-end security,” added Dubey.

Meanwhile, the much talked about video tape in the hands of authorities showing a doctor allegedly initiating an altercation has been refuted by the JDA, which called it doctored.

“The video is edited. It does not show the incident from the start, wherein the fight began. They are circulating it to blackmail us so we step down from the strike,” said Dr Naredi.

As the standoff between the doctors and the administration continues, patients are bearing the brunt of it. The MY Hospital bears a deserted look with minimum staff on attendance, while long queues are formed outside private hospitals as distressed patients look elsewhere for treatment.