Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 25 : Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday night terminated a senior resident doctor of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, after a viral video showed a scuffle between the doctor and a patient. The decision followed reports submitted by the IGMC administration and an internal inquiry.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the doctor's conduct was unacceptable and assured measures to prevent such incidents in the future. He announced that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be implemented for hospitals, including guidelines on the number of attendants permitted with patients and measures to ensure the safety of doctors.
"Whatever the circumstances in which this incident occurred, such an act should not have happened. Earlier, senior resident doctors were made to work 48-hour duties. We reduced their duty hours to 12 hours to reduce stress and increased their stipend from Rs 65,000 to Rs 1.30 lakh. Even after this, if such incidents occur, it is difficult to understand. The disciplinary committee and IGMC administration submitted their report to me. Any common man or patient comes to a hospital expect proper treatment," he said.
The Chief Minister said "no matter what the situation is, a doctor attacking a patient is unacceptable".
"Doctors can file complaints if there is an issue. Based on the administrative report, we terminated the doctor. We are also working on ensuring doctors' security and framing SOPs for hospitals, including regulating the number of attendants with patients. The doctor's action was definitely wrong. Any issues with doctors will be resolved through dialogue in a democratic manner."
Shimla District Police confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the case and investigation is underway.
"In this case, the FIR was registered on day one itself under relevant provisions. After that, the investigation proceeds on facts. The complainant's family members met me along with a large deputation and local people. We discussed all their doubts and concerns. We are sharing the investigation process with the complainant and ensuring complete transparency. Based on the evidence that comes before us, action will be taken strictly in accordance with law. This is a purely independent police investigation. Medical opinions, circumstantial evidence and medical reports have also been obtained. As evidence emerges, action will be taken and the law will take its own course," SP Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said.
Himachal Pradesh BJP president Rajeev Bindal said the issue was not limited to a single doctor-patient dispute and alleged a larger breakdown of governance and systems in the state.
"The real question here is not just about a doctor and a patient at IGMC. The bigger issue is the collapse of the overall system. When things start deteriorating from the government and ministerial level, the entire system becomes generalized and dysfunctional. There is frustration among doctors due to lack of facilities, and frustration among patients due to lack of treatment. Cutting off one finger because it has an infection is not treatment. The entire system has collapsed. Almost every department is in bad shape, including health, roads, water supply, and transport. Taking action against individuals is like plucking leaves; it is not a cure. This government has failed completely, and restoring the system will take years," he alleged.
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stressed the need to prevent such incidents in the future and strengthen law and order.
"I do not want to comment much on the government's decision to terminate the doctor after the report. But such incidents must stop in the future. The doctor-patient relationship is very important, and the government must seriously think about what steps it can take. We have been repeatedly raising law and order issues in the Assembly. Incidents of murder, acid attacks and crimes have taken place across the state. Development has come to a standstill," he said.
"The government had promised one lakh jobs in its first cabinet meeting... Instead, thousands of outsourced employees have been removed. Pensions and benefits under various schemes are not being paid. The question is, where is the government?" he asked.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the incident should never have happened, irrespective of the circumstances, and that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of doctors and patients alike.