Doctors Continue Protests Amid Growing Patient Frustrations at Chandigarh PGIMER

Medical professionals at Chandigarh PGIMER persist in their protests demanding justice for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. Patients express frustration over the disruption of services. The protest, backed by nationwide support, continues until demands including a CBI investigation are met.

Amid nationwide protests condemning the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, medical professionals at Chandigarh PGIMER continued their protest on Friday. The doctors have vowed to persist until justice is delivered. Patients visiting Chandigarh PGIMER reported significant troubles due to the five-day protest and urged the government to meet the doctors' demands.

'We are facing a lot of problems due to the absence of OPD. We have come from a long distance,' said Nitin, a patient. 'If OPD is closed, we should have been informed first. Now we have come. Our checkup was done on the old card but the card for meeting the new doctor is not being made, so we will have to come again.' Another patient, Pushpa, added.

Gurpreet, another patient, echoed similar sentiments. 'We have been roaming since last night but no one is listening to us nor are the doctors attending to us. The government must listen to the doctors so that the strike ends,' he said. Meanwhile, the doctors assert the crucial need for their safety and demand a Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter.

'This is the fifth consecutive day of our protest. We doctors want justice and demand a CBI probe. We are also requesting the government to enact a new safety law,' said Dr. Praneet Reddy. 'If a doctor is not safe even at his workplace, where will he be safe?' questioned Dr. Prerna.

In a related development, the Resident Doctors Association at Government Medical College in Amritsar, Punjab, announced the suspension of all non-essential and elective services, including Out Patient Departments, Operating Theaters, and wards, starting on August 16, until further notice.

(With inputs from agencies.)