Jolted by the sensational daylight murder of a doctor in the OPD of a Government hospital in Jaspur on Wednesday, the Provincial Medical Health Association (PMHS), association of Government doctors, has decided to observe a one-day long OPD boycott on Thursday.
The pediatrician of the Community Health Centre (CHC) of Jaspur in Udham Singh Nagar district, Dr S K Singh, 40, was shot by an unknown person when he was examining patients in the OPD of the hospital.
On hearing about the unfortunate incident, the president of the PMHS, Dr S K Goswami, left for Jaspur in Udham Singh Nagar district. The PMHS also made an impromptu decision to boycott the OPD of all Government hospitals on Thursday as a mark of protest.
Speaking to 'The Pioneer', Dr Goswami said that the incident reflects on the breakdown of law and order machinery of the State. He said that the fact that the murder was committed in the broad daylight in a hospital reflects the audacity of the criminals in the State. "All the doctors of the State are feeling insecure by this ghastly act. If the Government cannot ensure our safety in daytime then what security we could expect for those working in night shiftsIJ The matter is very unfortunate as well as serious. As of now we have decided to boycott OPDs across the State on Thursday and a decision on further course of action would be soon taken,'' he said.
The Uttarakhand Chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also expressed shock on the unfortunate incident. The association has decided that all the private hospitals and clinics in Jaspur area of Udham Singh Nagar district would be kept closed on Thursday. The general secretary of the Uttarakhand Chapter of the IMA, Dr DD Chaudhary said that the State president Dr RN Singhal and Dr Arvind Sharma have reached Jaspur to offer condolences to the bereaved family members.