The Telangana Junior Doctors Association on Tuesday, called off their strike to protest the assault of doctors by patients' relatives, for 24 hours.
This came after an assurance from the state and authorities of the Health Department.
According to reports, Telangana director of medical education (DME) Dr Ramesh Reddy met the striking medicos and agreed to most of their demands, which included Special Protection Forces (SPF) cover at OGH and all teaching hospitals, CCTV coverage of emergency areas and restrictions on the entry of families of patients.
Ramesh Reddy also said that the SPF cover might take a little time, as it required special permission from the government.
Lokesh Beerakayala, a member of the junior doctors association told Deccan Chronicle, “We have called off the strike noticing the difficulties the patients had to face but it should be understood that a lot of junior doctors suffer too. Despite the junior doctors facing a dearth of basic facilities, they still continue to work. They are often blamed for the cases however the lack of drugs and equipment cannot be attributed to them.”
The indefinite strike began on Sunday night after four attendants of a woman patient, who died during treatment, assaulted two junior doctors.
Nearly 250 junior doctors, including house surgeons, boycotted their duties except emergency services, demanding action against those involved in the attack and measures to beef up their security.
The strike was causing severe inconvenience to patients in one of the oldest hospitals in the country, with services in outpatient blocks remaining paralysed for the second consecutive day.
The junior doctors lodged a complaint with Afzalgunj police station demanding the arrest of the accused under non-bailable sections.
The strike was called by the Telangana Junior Doctors Association to protest against the rising number of attacks on medicos, saying this was the fourth incident at OGH in one month.
On Monday, OGH Superintendent GVS Moorthy set up a committee to look into their demands and asked for a report within three days.
Patients belonging to poor families from different parts of the city and other districts of Telangana and neighbouring states come to OGH, the biggest government-run facility in the state.
IANS inputs