New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is facing criticism for its failure to adhere to the Ministry of Health’s directive to file a First Information Report (FIR) within six hours of a violent attack on a doctor at a healthcare center in Ballabgarh. The incident, which unfolded at the PHC Chhainsa, has caused uproar among resident doctors, who are now contemplating a strike if immediate action is not taken by the institution.
The tumultuous event occurred when a junior doctor on duty was physically assaulted by a patient’s son while tending to a critical stroke case. As fellow doctors performed CPR inside, the intern stepped out to organize transportation for the patient and acquire a referral card. It was during this moment that the patient’s son launched a violent attack on the intern, issuing threats against all present medical staff if his father did not survive.
Despite the severity of the assault, AIIMS failed to comply with the Ministry of Health’s directive to file an FIR within six hours, a mandate established during a previous junior doctors’ strike. The delay in taking legal action has drawn condemnation from national resident doctor organizations, including FORDA and FAIMA, who have expressed solidarity with the AIIMS residents.
An emergency meeting held the following day involving AIIMS officials, local authorities, and faculty members did not lead to a resolution. Disappointingly, no FIR was lodged, and what was described as a ‘compromise’ was suggested, as reported by the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of AIIMS.
The RDA has strongly criticized AIIMS’ lack of action as “unacceptable” and is insisting that the FIR be filed under the Haryana Medicare Service Persons and Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2009. The association has issued a warning that failure to take immediate steps could result in the withdrawal of rural healthcare services and the initiation of a large-scale protest.
“Should prompt action be neglected, the RDA AIIMS will have no option but to suspend rural services and launch a protest,” emphasized the RDA.