The junior doctors at Medical College Hospital withdrew their strike demanding protection at workplace following an assurance from Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy that an ordinance on the Hospital Protection Act would soon be brought out.
However, even though the strike has been officially withdrawn, the PG Association representatives said junior doctors would take up casualty duties only after tighter security arrangements were put in place at the casualty by the MCH authorities.
The junior doctors had been on strike since last Friday after the relatives of a patient unleashed violence at the casualty wing and allegedly attacked a woman resident who was on duty.
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The postgraduate medical students (residents) and house surgeons held discussions with Ms. Sreemathy on Monday morning, during which the Minister promised the students that action would be taken against those responsible for the violence. She also agreed that improved security arrangements were needed at the MCH for better crowd control and to ensure the safety of doctors.