Opposition parties Congress and BJP on Wednesday threatened to throw their weights behind the ongoing cease-work agitation by over 700 doctors of the SCB Medical College Hospital here demanding removal of the hospital’s Urology Department head Dr Datteswar Hota.

To make the matter worse, the Junior Doctors of two other State-run teaching hospitals also ceased work on Tuesday.

Congress and BJP leaders met the doctors here separately and announced their support for their cause. They also held talks with Hospital Superintendent Dr Shyama Kanungo over the sufferings of the patients due to the doctors’ strike. Healthcare facilities have worsened in the hospital as the Junior Doctors are on strike for last nine days.

The 450-strong Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) is on strike since February 19 demanding stringent action against Dr Hota, who had been allegedly committing atrocities and harassing the PG students of his department since long. The Senior Residents and House Surgeons too are boycotting their hospital duties from last week in support of the Junior Doctors. 

The JDA alleged that Hota was illegally asking the PG students to work and take care of the patients in his private hospital located in the city. The PG students are also sent out on errands for his old parents. “Those who refuse to do so are threatened of adverse consequences during exams,” alleged JDA secretary Dr Phanindra Kumar Swain.

Acting on a memorandum of the JDA, Medical College Principal Dr Siddharth Das had formed a four-member in-house committee, which, after recording the depositions of the complainants and the accused, has submitted a report to the State Government. Although the Government has not made public the findings in the probe, sources said Hota has been indicted by the panel.