Doctors protest in Nirmal after paediatrician assaulted by patient’s relative

Doctors from private hospitals and nursing homes staged a protest in Adilabad after paediatrician Dr Santosh Raj was allegedly assaulted by a patient’s relative over medical charges. Police deployed additional forces as doctors demanded immediate arrest of the assailants.

NIrmal: Doctors working in private hospitals and nursing homes launched a protest following an assault on a paediatrician here on Thursday night, demanding immediate action against the assailants.

Agitating doctors took out a rally and later staged a sit-in protest at Jayashankar Chowrasta, leading to a traffic blockade in the town. They raised slogans against the assailants and demanded that the police immediately arrest those responsible.

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The doctors said they were rendering medical services by risking their lives, while being subjected to attacks by relatives of patients at regular intervals.

The doctors alleged that paediatrician Dr Santosh Raj was indiscriminately thrashed by a patient’s relative following an argument with staff members of his hospital over the cost of medical services. They demanded protection for doctors working in private hospitals.

Various political parties, including the BJP and Congress, and several people’s organisations extended support to the protesting doctors.

District Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr Janaki Sharmila, along with her team, rushed to the spot and ensured that traffic movement resumed on the road. She held discussions with the protesters, but the doctors remained adamant.

Similarly, Nirmal Municipal Vice-Chairperson Ganesh Chakravarthi also held talks with the doctors over the issue. However, the protest continued on Friday.

Meanwhile, around 400 police personnel were deployed at key junctions and roads across the town to prevent any untoward incidents in the wake of the protest.

A video clip of the assault went viral on social media platforms, showing a person attacking Dr Santosh while hospital staff attempted to restrain him.