Doctors’ Day no longer an occasion to celebrate: Prof. Banerjee

Reporters Today, BHUBANESWAR, JULY 1: Doctors are an integral part of society and always endeavour to alleviate the pains and ailments of people, but the growing incidents of violence against them are worrying, Prof. Amit Banerjee, an eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon, said while speaking at the Doctors’ Day celebration programme organised by the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here today.

          “Some doctor somewhere in our country is subjected to violent behavior every hour and this has to stop. Doctors have the right to protest against such incidents, but they must also ensure that it did not hamper health services,” said Prof. Banerjee, Vice-Chancellor of SOA Deemed to be University.

          The theme for the day this year was “Zero Tolerance to Violence Against Doctors and Clinical Establishments”.

          Referring to the recent agitation by doctors following an incident in Kolkata, Prof. Banerjee said it was the first occasion when all the doctors in the country took a united stand against violence against the community. “But we must observe, not celebrate the day,” he said.

          “Prevailing circumstances have not left us in a celebratory mood as we remember the pioneering leadership of Dr. B.C.Roy whose birth day is observed as the ‘Doctors’ Day’, he said adding even today doctors of the Hindu Rao Hospital and attached medical college in north Delhi are on strike because two of their colleagues were assaulted yesterday.

          Prof. Banerjee suggested that the Doctors’ Day should be observed as Doctors’ Unity Day as a constant reminder to the violence being perpetrated against them.

          Interns and medical students staged two skits portraying violence against medical professionals and first-aid for accident victims.