Health workers stage silent protest over boundary wall dispute at Dhanbad Sadar Hospital

Dhanbad: The doctors, nurses and other medical staff at Dhanbad sadar hospital held a silent march to demand a complete ban on the use of the hospital premises by lawyers.The protest came a day after the lawyers ended their pen-down strike after SSP Prabhat Kumar assured them that a portion of the boundary wall, which was recently erected and was blocking the access route to the bar building, will be dismantled and a gate installed to facilitate movement. Kumar had also assured the lawyers that the boundary wall will not be restored before a permanent road and parking arrangements were made for them.Health workers on Saturday opposed this decision citing concerns over safety, security, and the smooth functioning of medical services. “An alternative route for the movement of lawyers was already provided by the hospital administration. Despite this, the demand to break the boundary wall and create a new passage was unjustified. Opening the hospital premises for general transit would adversely affect security and internal management,” Dr Sanjeev Kumar, nodal officer of the sadar hospital, said.“Creating a new passage by breaking the boundary wall would lead to frequent traffic congestions inside the hospital premises. Such congestions could severely hamper the movement of ambulances and patients during emergencies, potentially putting lives at risk,” Dr A K Singh, president of Jharkhand chapter of the Indian Medical Association, which backed Saturday’s protests, said.