Junior doctors of King George Hospital, the teaching hospital of Andhra Medical College, continued their strike for the second day on Wednesday. They are demanding improved security for them after friends and family members of a patient had allegedly attacked them when the patient died while undergoing treatment on Monday night.
All efforts made by Superintendent of KGH, M.V.R. J. Somayajulu, along with Collector J. Syamala Rao and Commissioner of Police N. Sambasiva Rao during the day to convince the junior doctors to call off their agitation and resume duties had failed. The junior doctors held a demonstration near the KGH main gate in the morning and later went to the Collector with their demand.
Medical care to the patients suffered due to the strike. Only emergency surgeries were performed and Out Patient Department functioned partially.
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During the day, Dr. Somayajulu approached the Collector with a proposal to engage 30 private security guards from Thursday itself on daily wages as an emergency measure and the same was accepted by the Principal Secretary after Mr. Syamala Rao explained to the official the situation here. Commissioner of Police also agreed to increase the police strength in KGH on his request, Dr. Somayajulu said. But the junior doctors refused to call of their agitation and insisted on permanent measures to be taken.
The Superintendent said the in-service post-graduate students were asked to help the professors and assistant professors and 17 doctors from AMC were also being deputed to KGH from Thursday. The DMHO office and AP Vaidya Vidhana Parishad were also asked to send some doctors on deputation. About 30 doctors from outside would be assisting the KGH doctors from Thursday, he said.