Docs, staff go on strike in hospital

Chennai, Apr 21: Tension prevailed at the Government Children's Hospital since early morning as doctors and para medical staff went on a flash strike in response to an assualt of two duty doctors by a mob protesting the death of a 12-day-old infant at the hospital.

Police said the infant was admitted to the hospital with a congenital brain ailment about three days back. The baby died last night triggering protests from parents who charged the doctors with failure to provide proper treatment.

However, they took the body to their home at Royapuram in North Chennai.

Later, irritated relatives, numbering about 25, came in and autorickshaws and forcibly entered the emergeny ward of the hospital attacked Dr Suresh Kumar and Dr Anand with iron rods before they fled from the scene.

Dr Kumar was injured and has been admitted to sam hospital.

Protesting the attack and demanding suitable action against the culprits, the doctors and the para medical staff of the hospital went on strike early this morning.

Health and Police Department officials were holding talks with the striking medicos staff, they added.

UNI