HYDERABAD, Nov 25: Doctors particularly those performing duties in gynaecology ward at Civil Hospital Hyderabad suffer from sense of insecurity as patients’ attendants often turn aggressive in case of any mishap without and caring whether they are dealing with a male or female doctor.

These doctors face some other problems also such as provision of some basic surgical items in the operation theatres.

Background interviews with doctors revealed that lady doctors, who were doing their post-graduation for diploma degrees are concerned about their security in the gynaecology ward of the hospital. Recently they had raised the issue with Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed when he visited the hospital.

“We will have to seriously think about deploying Rangers permanently in the hospital if such situation exists”, the minister had told Dawn in response to a query during his visit. He said that he had talked to DG Rangers Sindh when a delegation of paramedical staff association had called on him after a paramedic was manhandled by a political party activist.

Casualty department often witnesses violent incidents when a gun-shot patient or seriously injured victims of road mishaps are brought there. Relatives and friends of injured always doubt doctors’ capability and in case of any death they turn violent, smashing windowpanes and manhandling doctors.

Then there are reports that required number of doctors is not present in casualty ward. “We perform our duties amidst sense of insecurity as there is no one to protect us and ultimately we take shelter somewhere after assessing mood of attendants”, said a doctor.

A lady doctor said that in one of the cases attendants become aggressive and even tried to force their entry into labour room where surgeries were under way. “In case of any death in hospital, patients’ relatives always hold doctors responsible for the deaths on account of their negligence as they simply don’t have trust in government-run hospitals.”

“You can’t understand how we handled those violent people who were bent upon entering labour room forcibly”, said a doctor, who was present there.

Those doing post-graduation in diploma degree courses are required to perform duties in the hospital and they are not entitled to any stipend. Besides their emergency duty of 12 hours, these doctors have to attend wards regularly.

“The course which is otherwise of two-year length normally gets completed in four years and till then we have to attend hospitals. So the longer is the course, the longer is the agony we have to face here because we are unable to deal with uncivilised people. What we get in return is rough and shameless treatment”, said another doctor.

There was a general complaint from doctors during night duties that it was too difficult for them to perform their professional responsibilities simply because of the fact that young male attendants found their way into the corridors of the ward. “Some are even not attendants and they just come here in groups. They pass indecent remarks. Even otherwise their body language is intolerable”, complained a doctor.

Since the hospital does not have its own security, police authorities are requested for deployment of force. Recently

six policemen were deployed at various points like medical ward, casualty, labour room, etc. It is ensured only temporarily and then the same is withdrawn because police are themselves facing shortage of force.

After doctors’ complaint a policeman has been deployed outside gynaecology ward but doctors believe that he would soon be withdrawn with the passage of as time.Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Jabbar Shaikh said that there is 100 per cent change in hospital’s working ever-since he took over. “A meeting is scheduled with the DPO on Wednesday for security related measures and I hope that permanent security would be ensured whereas health minister is in touch with DG Rangers for their additional deployment as well”, he said.

He disagreed with the claim that surgical items are not provided in gynaecology ward. “These were old complaints. Situation is much better now, he added.