The shortage of doctors at Mother and Child Hospital Sopore (MCH) on Monday triggered a protest as scores of patients including their attendants assembled outside the hospital and raised slogans against the authroties. Several pregnant patients including kids and men took to the streets and staged protest outside MCH against non-availability of doctors here.According to reports, the protesters blocked Sopore Srinagar road for several hours, thus halting the traffic movement for some time. The protesters raised slogans against the health department and demanded proper staff management in MCH.Ulfat, a pregnant woman told KNO that there is no surgeon available in the hospital. “We are facing difficulties in absence of doctors at hospital,” she said. “Many surgeons are posted at MCH but at present no surgeon was available, thus leaving the poor patients to lurch at large,” she said, adding that the doctors usually remain absent and see the patients at their private clinics.“I belong to a poor family and cannot afford to visit private clinics but the doctors here are forcing us to visit private clinics and drain our money,” she added. Meanwhile, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Sopore Dr Sami termed the allegations as ‘baseless’, saying they have a proper staff at the hospital.(KNO)