Patna: Medical services at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Patna were severely disrupted on Friday as resident doctors launched an indefinite strike in protest of an alleged altercation involving Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand, his wife, and their security personnel. The strike, which has led to the closure of OPD and Operation Theatre (OT) services, comes after a late-night scuffle between the MLA’s party and hospital staff on Wednesday.
The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of AIIMS Patna began a full work boycott on Friday, halting services for thousands of patients. According to a hospital source, approximately 85 surgeries were postponed out of 100 scheduled for the day, and over 3,400 patients were unable to be treated in the OPD. Only a limited number of patients were attended to by senior faculty doctors.
Doctors are alleging that the MLA’s security guards misbehaved with and assaulted on-duty hospital guards and doctors. The RDA has issued a list of demands, including a written apology from MLA Chetan Anand, the withdrawal of a police case filed against a doctor and a guard, and strict action against the MLA and his security personnel. The doctors have stated that their strike will continue on Saturday and beyond if their demands are not met.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when MLA Anand, along with his wife Dr. Ayushi Singh and armed security guards, arrived at the hospital’s trauma center to visit an injured player from his shooting academy. A dispute reportedly arose when the security guards were stopped from entering with their weapons, which escalated into a physical altercation.
In a contrasting account, MLA Anand’s wife filed a police complaint, alleging that she and her husband were also subjected to misbehavior and assault by the hospital staff. City SP West Bhanu Pratap has confirmed that complaints have been lodged from both sides, and a police investigation, including an examination of CCTV footage, is underway.
An emergency meeting of the AIIMS Patna Faculty Association was also held on Friday. The association condemned the incident, describing it as a “forced entry with weapons” and an “assault on security personnel.” The faculty members have expressed full solidarity with the resident doctors and have threatened to escalate their protest by wearing black bands on duty if immediate action is not taken to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.
A meeting between the resident doctors and AIIMS Director Dr. Saurabh Varthan on Friday failed to produce a resolution, as the doctors were not satisfied with the director’s assurances. The doctors have made it clear that their protest will continue until “concrete action” is taken.
