SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, August 28: The recent assault on junior doctors at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Ranchi by home guard personnel is escalating towards a major agitation, as the Junior Doctors Networks (JDN) and the Medical Students Networks (MSN) from all other five medical colleges have expressed solidarity with the RIMS Junior Doctors Association (JDA).
RIMS JDA President Dr Ankit Kumar and Vice-President Sr. Abhishek Laguri have stated that their primary demands are the identification of the home guards responsible for the assault and legal action against them. The JDA is currently awaiting a response from the health department, after which they will decide their next steps.
Recurring issues with home guards
“Junior doctors are on the boil as it was not the first time deployed female home guards have misbehaved with female doctors. They often misbehave and talk in unsavoury words if a junior arrives 5 or 10 minutes late. Much water has flown in Harmu River, and the JDA wants to solve this humiliation once and for all,” said Dr Ankit and Dr Abhishek.
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RIMS JDA anticipates Health Dept’s response
The JDA is waiting for action from the health department. Sources indicate that the RIMS administration has taken the complaints against female home guards seriously and expresses full sympathy with the injured doctors.
JDN and MSN critique safety policies
In the meantime, the state president of Junior Doctors Network (JDN) and Medical Students Network (MSN) Dr Vikash Kumar (RIMS) and general secretary Dr Raghvendra Kumar (MGMMCH) said that junior doctors of MGMMCH, SNMMCH, PJMCH, SBMCH and MMCH are shocked from Tuesday assault at RIMS which happened just after 15 days of Kolkata incident.
“It is surprising that those meant to protect have turned into predators. Home guards, who were deployed for the safety of doctors, ended up assaulting and injuring them instead of providing protection,” said Dr Vikash Kumar. He added that the RIMS incident has exposed the flaws in the doctors’ safety policy of the health minister and principal secretary of health.
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All five medical colleges back RIMS JDA
Dr Vikash emphasized that the RIMS JDA is capable of handling the situation but has the support of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Ranchi chapter and junior doctors from all five medical colleges.
Dr Raghvendra Kumar of MGMMCH, Jamshedpur (State Secretary), mentioned that he has discussed the issue with office bearers of all five medical colleges and will support the RIMS JDA in its course of action.
