SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Sept 12: The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) administration’s inaction following an incident involving a junior resident doctor has ignited widespread resentment among hostel inmates, female doctors, and students.
Four days after the incident, the RIMS administration has yet to file an institutional FIR or implement enhanced security measures across the hospital, hostels, and campus.
Incident details and initial response
On Sunday morning, a junior resident from the oncology department was harassed in a lift by a drunk outsider while on her way to duty. In response, junior residents from all departments went on a pen-down strike, which lasted 24 hours until the administration assured action.
“It is unfortunate that the administration failed to file an institutional FIR so far. Will it take action only when a major incident takes place?” questioned a hostel inmate.
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Lack of support and action
Notably, the Junior Doctors Association (JDA) of RIMS, the newly formed IMA Resident Doctors Network (RDN), and the IMA Medical Students Network (MSN) have yet to publicly support the junior residents.
Even Health Minister Banna Gupta, who is also the chairman of the RIMS Governing Body, has not responded to the incident.
Senior resident Dr Ankita expressed concern, stating, “The matter of concern is that Sunday (September 8) was not the first such incident; similar occurrences have happened before, but the victim did not disclose them due to fear and defamation.”
Call for enhanced security
Dr Ankita further emphasised that the absence of action from the RIMS administration might embolden rowdy elements. “Even after the incident, the RIMS administration has not made special security arrangements at interaction points. We want only security arrangements so that we can roam in our campus freely,” she said.
Senior resident Dr Ashtika highlighted that the campus remains unsafe, noting that outsiders freely enter through the doctors’ gate despite guidelines requiring ID card checks. She said that there are two gates for entry, one for patients and another for doctors but outsiders freely enter from the doctors’ gate.
“Even in the stadium, outsiders can be found roaming freely,” she said.
Hostel inmates are also dissatisfied with the lack of involvement from local police to ensure campus security and the safety of doctors.
