Punjab medicos block traffic, health services paralysed

Medicos, agitating against the Centre's reservation policy, today blocked traffic at several places and locked the gates of state-run hospitals in the city paralysing health services here.

Medicos held demonstrations and formed human chains as part of the protest.

Residents of Post-Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) students had decided to burn their degree certificates tomorrow, PGIMER Association of Resident Doctors President Jaspreet Singh said.

"The PGIMER entry gate, main bus stand, Chandigarh-Ambala and other highways were blocked by medicos in response to the total medical bandh call," said Subh Mohan Singh of Youth for Equality, spearheading the anti-quota stir.

Singh claimed that several traders, industry and chemists associations had also joined the protest even as diagnostic centres in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali observed a half-day bandh. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) in the three cities had also joined the protests, Chandigarh IMA Secretary Yashbala said.

The condition of two senior PGIMER residents, Bhanu Parkash and Aneesh Gupta, had deteriorated after their fast entered the sixth day, hospital sources said.

Meanwhile, PGIMER faculty members have proceeded on a day's mass casual leave, faculty association President Ashok Gupta said.

Gupta, however, said critical operations, including emergencies, ICUs and OTs were maintained as doctors did not want the general public to suffer. Private hospitals and clinics run by practitioners also suspended OPDs to join the protest, officials said.