Doctors bodies have condemned the “murderous” attack on an ambulance driver by CRPF personnel on Thursday evening in Karan Nagar here when he was ferrying patients from Ganderbal district to SMHS hospital.Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) under the presidentship of Dr. G M Mir was held a meeting today wherein “The brutal murderous attack on one ambulance driver, Ghulam Mohammad Sofi of Ganderbal is strongly condemnable. We approached higher authorities who had assured to intervene in this matter,” Dr Mir Mushtaq, spokesperson DAK said in a statement.“The culprit has been suspended but DAK demands a strict action in this context so that he should be booked immediately without any delay. Forces have leashed a reign of terror by halting ambulances on roads now and then and barging in hospitals often since the onset of unrest and yesterday's murderous attempt has taken this barbarism to newer heights,” he added.He added that medical staff across Kashmir is under deep distress and agony.
“Nobody feels safe while performing his or her duties in the hospitals and the threat prevails all along the road also till the health staff reaches their homes.”Dr G M Mir has categorically stated that under these prevailing inhuman and savage circumstances, deliverance of health care services is becoming a herculean and next to impossible job which makes us hard to remain focussed while performing duties, he said.“Day by day the staff is wearing out and threat to the life has brought their morale down. It is known to one and all as how the medical staff is working to serve the needy patients keeping all the challenges into consideration but consistent happening of brutal events have cornered us to the maximum and we are feeling helpless in our efforts of serving and treating the patients.”
Dr G M Mir said that shutting of hospitals in no way is an option to react keeping the rush of injured persons in bulk to the hospitals during these days.On August 22, Health Staff across valley should wear black bands and assemble in their respective health institutes for a symbolic protest with placards to highlight the issue such that the authorities take these matters seriously and act accordingly, he said.DAK stresses the authorities that strict action should be taken against the culprits such that there is no repeat of lethal incidents like these.DAK also wants to draw attention of the authorities to issue strict directions to forces for smooth passage of ambulances and refrain them from barging into hospitals which creates a sheer harassment and fear psychosis among the staff and the patients. (KNS)