Image Courtesy:indiatoday.in
Three junior doctors were detained and allegedly manhandled by Jhansi police for attempting to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to Maharani Laxmi Bai medical college on May 23, 2021.
The three doctors including JUDA President Hardeep Jogi wanted to submit a memorandum listing demands such as: provision of a new hostel, gymnasium in college campus; 24 hours central library services for medical students; availability of required quantity of medicines in medical colleges; better treatment of healthcare workers, nursing staff and cleaning staff by government officials.
However, to the surprise of the doctors, a few police personnel detained them at Premnagar police station. A video of the incident became viral via Jogi’s social media, organisations like Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) condemned the incident.
Jhansi District Magistrate Andra Vamsi arranged a meeting with the college principal and the concerned doctors. During the meeting, Vamsi promised to personally look into the students’ demands regarding improvisation of existing facilities.
Regarding misinformation of the doctors being arrested told Indian Express that there was “a slight miscommunication” when the three people were trying to hand over the memorandum as the Chief Minister was about to board his car. However, he stressed there was no arrest although the doctors were detained.
Further, as per a FAIMA statement, he assured the doctors that they will take strict action against the officials who manhandled them.
In their letter, the medical professionals appealed to the administration to look into the unavailability of services for resident doctors in medical colleges, nursing staff, sanitation workers and medical healthcare workers, working under the guidance of the principal.
Uttar Pradesh recently reported many instances of a struggling health infrastructure. The Allahabad High Court on May 18 called the entire rural medical system ‘Ram Bharose’ (at the mercy of God).
At such a time, Adityanath said that the first two Covid waves were “markedly different”, and his government is preparing to face the third wave, said the Indian Express. He further said that 15 new oxygen plants are to be set up in Bundelkhand region with six plants to be established in Jhansi.
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