Tamil Nadu government doctors call off strike after government assures them of security

Attack on Chennai doctor: Government doctors staged demonstrations across Tamil Nadu condemning the assault on a senior medical oncologist at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) and demanded safety and security measures for doctors and hospital premises.

Government doctors staged demonstrations across Tamil Nadu condemning the assault on a senior medical oncologist at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) and demanded safety and security measures for doctors and hospital premises.

With the Indian Medical Association-Tamil Nadu State Branch also taking part in a 24-hour strike (from 6 p.m. on Wednesday (November 13, 2024) to 6 p.m. on Thursday (November 14, 2024)), outpatient services and elective surgeries were suspended at many government and private hospitals.

Editorial | Saving doctors: On medical professionals, their safety 

The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA), which had announced an indefinite strike on Wednesday, decided to withdraw the call after talks with the Health Minister on Thursday. In a statement, TNGDA president K. Senthil said an order on security measures was issued by the Directorate of Medical Education, and the Minister promised to review the implementation of the measures after a month.

In Chennai, doctors of the Federation of Government Doctors Association (FOGDA) staged a demonstration at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). P. Balakrishnan, State convenor, FOGDA, demanded that armed police personnel be deployed at government hospitals, and hospitals be declared safe zones with two-tier security.

Doctors affiliated to the TNGDA, Chennai district, wore black badges to work and conducted a peaceful demonstration at RGGGH. The association demanded stringent action to prevent similar incidents in the future by increasing the number of police outposts and police personnel at all hospitals.

At Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, Arunachalam, district president, FOGDA, led the protest. He said, “In the first phase of our protest today (Thursday), we boycotted outpatient services, review meetings, the entry under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, and all teaching activities at the medical college. Round-the-clock police protection should be given to all government hospitals.”