Doctors’ strike over assault by woman’s kin withdrawn

Vadodara: Resident doctors of SSG Hospital (SSGH) went on strike on Thursday to protest the alleged assault by relatives of a 78-year-old woman, Ranjan Vyas, whose body had decomposed in the hospital mortuary after being kept there since Monday evening. Late on Thursday, the strike was withdrawn after their demands regarding enhanced security were met. Sources said that among other measures, a special team of guards to respond to any emergency will be maintained.The body of the deceased woman, which was awaiting the arrival of the deceased woman's relatives for the US, was found decomposed. The issue led to a ruckus by the deceased woman's relatives and an assault on hospital workers on Wednesday. Security personnel and police later brought the situation under control.After the alleged violence, resident doctors launched a strike, while faculty members submitted representations to the authorities demanding action against those involved.The doctors demanded enhanced security on campus, improved CCTV coverage and better lighting, alleging that existing security arrangements are inadequate. They claimed that four or five such incidents targeting doctors have occurred in the past three months.Resident doctors had said that only emergency and OPD services would continue during the strike. District collector Anil Dhameliya and senior police officials visited the hospital and held discussions with the administration and junior doctors. The Gujarat Medical Teachers Association (GMTA) has also taken up the matter with the state govt, with medical teachers issuing a 48-hour deadline for action.