Odisha medical college: PG Medicos, House Surgeons allege harassment by Principal , On Strike

Sambalpur: Alleging harassment by the Director, and hence demanding his removal, the Post Graduate students and house surgeons in Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) are currently observing "cease-work" agitation.

As many as 240 junior doctors and 150 house surgeons have joined the agitation.

Many of the medical associations have extended their support to the agitating medicos. The doctors have been abstaining from their duties and extending support to only emergency care, but they have now resorted to complete ceasework.

On 22nd November, the Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) submitted a memorandum to the Health Minister demanding the removal of the Director alleging his involvement in unlawful activities stating that his style of functioning is not acceptable to the medicos at the institute.

There are allegations that the accused Director has been harassing resident doctors, medical students, faculties and staff. Not only this, the director has been resorting to unethical human experiments while treating patients and behaving with them in humiliating ways, claimed the open letter to the Health Minister by United Resident Doctors' Association (URDA).

The resident doctors on the campus have been protesting against this attitude of the director, however, their voice has been fallen on deaf ears, alleged the URDA, while supporting the "genuine" demand of the protesting medicos.

Meanwhile, alleging that director's dictatorial mindset causes serious harm to the mental well being of those under and around him, the Resident Doctors' Association of JN Medical College and Hospital has seconded the JDA, VIMSAR's stand.

However, Dr Pujahari, while denying the allegations levelled against him, claimed that the hospital is running smoothly.

"Both indoor and outdoor are functioning normally," he told the news agency UNI, adding that the doctors are performing their duties with all sincerity, considering the gravity of the current situation. TOI reports that VIMSAR authorities have cancelled the leaves of all doctors so that treatment of patients is not affected.

The director has written to the Governor for an inquiry into the serious allegations made against him.

The Grade III and group IV employees of the institute have also extended their support to the JDA. The JDA sources also claimed that they have the support of Odisha Medical Teachers' Association (OMTA), its President Dr Devabrata Ray informed UNI.