Hyderabad: Resident doctors at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) launched a flash strike on Thursday morning following an alleged incident involving verbal abuse and threats of physical violence against a junior resident doctor by patient attendants.
The NIMS Resident Doctors Association (RDA), which is leading the protest, has demanded that the hospital management take institutional action instead of leaving the affected doctor to pursue the matter independently.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday between 2.20 pm and 4.30 pm in the triage and intensive care units on the first floor of the Emergency Medicine Department.
Junior doctor allegedly threatened
According to resident doctors, junior resident Dr K Sreekanth attended to a patient and advised further medical management, including a neurology consultation, a CT head scan and Foley catheterisation.
Doctors said Sreekanth was simultaneously attending to other critical emergency cases, resulting in a brief delay in carrying out the catheterisation.
The delay allegedly led to an argument with the patient’s attendants, who reportedly verbally abused the doctor and questioned the salaries of medical staff. Resident doctors further alleged that the attendants threatened physical violence against Sreekanth.
Security personnel and the duty Resident Medical Officer (RMO) later intervened and helped defuse the situation.
Following the incident, Sreekanth submitted a written complaint to the RMO. A police case was subsequently registered based on his individual complaint.
RDA seeks institutional action
While acknowledging that an FIR had been registered, the Resident Doctors Association argued that an individual complaint by a junior doctor was inadequate and demanded that NIMS management file an institutional complaint.
The association said its broader concern was workplace safety and what it described as inadequate administrative action following similar incidents.
Resident doctors also pointed to an alleged assault involving medical staff around two weeks earlier and said they were concerned about the lack of adequate follow-up.
The RDA has demanded stronger security arrangements across the hospital and comprehensive legal support for doctors facing threats or attacks while performing their duties.
Elective and OPD services boycotted
After its deadline for action passed, the RDA announced a boycott of elective procedures and outpatient department (OPD) services as part of the protest.
The resident doctors have urged NIMS management and the Telangana government to introduce permanent security measures to protect healthcare workers and ensure a safe working environment.
The association is seeking institutional accountability, formal legal backing and improved security protocols so that resident doctors are not required to handle legal proceedings on their own following workplace incidents.
Further discussions between the resident doctors, hospital administration and authorities are expected as the protest continues.
