Health plea to step up security around Cooch Behar hospitals

Health plea to step up security around Cooch Behar hospitals

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=258033

COOCH BEHAR, 14 JUNE: The Cooch Behar district health department asked the district administration to strengthen security around the hospitals, in the wake of frequent ransacking incidents. According to the police department, the proposal is now under consideration.
Trinamul Congress activists ransacked the office room of the Maharaja Jitendra Narayan hospital superintendent, alleging that three newborn babies died on 8 June following an oxygen cylinder explosion. They also staged a demonstration at the office of the chief medical officer (health) in Cooch Behar.
Earlier, the Forward Bloc and the CPI-M activists demonstrated at Dinhata sub-divisional hospital on 1 June, protesting against low quality diets, poor services and irregularities. They are reported to have thrown rotten potatoes at the hospital superintendent and the doctors while a doctor was also manhandled after which the doctors observed a ceasework at the outpatients’ department. Mathabhanga sub-divisional hospital is also bearing the brunt of the public anger with ransacking incidents becoming more frequent.
Defending the district health department's initiative, the Cooch Behar unit secretary of Indian Medical Association, Dr Amal Basak said, “There was a demand for police outposts in the district hospital and all the sub-divisional hospitals. Ransacking hospitals and attacks on doctors amount to non-bailable offences in many states and this rule should be introduced in Bengal too.” The Cooch Behar CMOH, Dr Radha Raman Banik said he had asked the district magistrate to set up police outposts outside hospitals. A district police official said, the proposal is under consideration. ;SNS