PANJIM: The healthcare services at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) were affected partially on Friday with hundreds of junior resident doctors holding a day-long mass protest in support of doctors of Kolkata’s NRS Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH), who are on indefinite strike over physical assault on two of their colleagues while on duty. 

Earlier this week, a medical student was attacked allegedly by the relatives of a deceased patient in NRSMCH. The doctor was allegedly hit with a brick on his head, leaving him with a fractured skull and in critical condition. 

As part of nation-wide strike, the resident doctors under the banner Goa Association of Resident Doctors GMC held a day-long protest demanding immediate arrest of all the perpetrators. The doctors have also demanded apology from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee, who threatened agitating doctors to get back to work within four hours or face action.  

“We demand immediate arrest of all the perpetrators and a formal apology from the Chief Minister of West Bengal for her action related to the incident. We are on mass protest as support to the doctors who were attacked,” Association President Dr Veeresh HM said. 

He said that the incident that is reported in NRSMCH and the action of West Bengal Health authorities and police is very shocking making us wonder how doctors are suppose to work in such dangerous, insecure and life-threatening environment. 

While the junior doctors were on strike, the senior doctors attended the patients making sure that the patients do not suffer. 

“The health services were affected partially.  But the senior doctors took charge. We are also with the NRSMCH doctors and wants strict action against the perpetrators. But at the same time, we have to make sure that the patients in the hospital do not suffer,” a senior doctor attached to GMC said. 

Meanwhile the doctors attached to Indian Medical Association (IMA), Goa branch also extended their support to the cause by wearing black badges on arms and black shirts. 

 “All the doctors and members of IMA are wearing the black badges and some are wearing black shirts to show our solidarity towards the doctors who have been brutally assaulted in West Bengal medical colleges. We strongly feel that the State government should strongly support the doctors,” IMA member and senior doctor Dr Shekhar Salkar said adding that the Manipal Hospital doctors and staffers were part of the protest. 

He recalled how similar incidents that reported in Goa in the past saw Government backing and punishing the culprit. 

“We request the West Bengal Chief Minister to support the doctors and provide them the security, especially in the government sector,” Salkar said.