Hyderabad: Doctors across several districts in Telangana staged protests at hospitals and medical colleges on Monday, February 12 against suspensions over rate bite incident at a hospital in Kamareddy.
A patient was bitten by rates in the ICU of the Government General Hospital (GGH) Kamareddy on Sunday.
The protest, organised by the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA), challenged the decision made by the Director of Medical Education (DME), Dr B Triveni, to suspend the medical personnel. The association argues that the responsibility for the incident lies with the sanitation staff, not the doctors.
The suspended doctors pleaded innocence. Dr S Vasanth Kumar, one of the suspended doctors, clarified that he was not even present at the hospital when the incident occurred, The South First reported. Dr Kavya, another suspended doctor, questioned how morning-duty doctors could be held accountable for an incident that happened late at night.
Meanwhile, the staff nurse G Majula, also suspended, denied responsibility for the incident.
The TTGDA demanded the immediate revocation of the suspensions, emphasising that doctors should not be held accountable for sanitation issues. They threatened to escalate protests if the suspensions were not lifted promptly.
The association also called for structural reforms in hospitals, including restrictions on patient attendants, effective sanitation and security measures, filling of vacancies, financial support, and clear job charts for doctors and staff.
Reports indicated that the District Collector conducted a probe into the incident, resulting in the surrender of duties by the District Coordinator of Hospital Services. A preliminary report suggested negligence on the part of the suspended medical personnel.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana, supported the doctors’ protest, criticising the suspension as irresponsible and unprofessional. The IMA emphasised that medical officers should focus on patient care rather than dealing with sanitation issues.
Doctors in Telangana protested against the suspension of their colleagues over a rat bite incident, arguing that they were not responsible for sanitation issues in the hospital. The protest reflects broader concerns about the accountability and working conditions of medical personnel in the state.
