Good relationship and faith between patients and doctors necessary: Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma

A Correspondent

JORHAT: “I do condemn the barbaric atrocities and assault on doctors that took place in West Bengal and request the doctor fraternity not to harass but give trouble-free treatment to patients at various hospitals throughout the country and State,” said State Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma while talking to reporters at Assam Agricultural University golden jubilee closing ceremony on Monday.

Sarma flayed the West Bengal Chief Minister’s comment and her government’s failure in solving the imbroglio amicably. He said, “We have faced the hardship of keeping doctors in State hospitals. In private hospitals, doctors are paid around Rs 2 lakh per month but in the State Government hospitals, doctors are paid a minimum salary of Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 only.” He added, “It is quite obvious that sometimes among 1,000 patients one patient might die. This may or may not be due to the attending doctor. But if the attendants of that patient start assaulting the doctor and as a result the doctor does not turn up for duty from the next day, hundreds and hundreds of patients will be deprived of treatment. So I hope there is always a good relationship and faith between patients and doctors so that no such incident takes place.”

Following the decision taken by the Indian Medical Association as a mark of protest against atrocities on doctors in West Bengal, the Jorhat Medical College Teachers’ Association withdrew from all non-essential services from 6 am for 24 hours. All emergency services continued as usual as doctors carried placards and staged protest in front of the OPD. But other staff and doctors on emergency duty continued their job as usual, said Dr Santosh Kumar Sahu, the Deputy Superintendent of JMCH, on Monday.

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