Rohit Shishodia  
Government doctors across Jammu & Kashmir have threatened to completely shut down medical services from October 27, 2018, over illegal confinement of Dr Ashwani Kumar Bhagat, an orthopedic surgeon from district hospital Reasi, Jammu, by the Deputy Commissioner. The doctors have demanded the suspension of the DC.

The doctors have said that they will strike work from October 25 to October 27, 2018, in a phased manner which will include closing the OPD, surgeries and emergency services. The doctors of district hospital have been on strike since October 20, 2018.

On October 20, 2018, Dr Bhagat, who is a gazetted officer, was directed by the medical superintendent of district hospital to rush and treat the deputy commissioner, who was on duty at a local degree college, where counting of local polls was going on.

The doctor rushed to the counting center with two para medical staff and ambulance. The doctor discussed with the DC regarding treatment.

But the doctor was asked to keep quiet by the DC. Dr Bhagat urged the DC that he needed to return to the hospital as hundreds of patients were waiting him for treatment.

The doctor told the DC that he did not have written orders to stay there so he had to leave for the hospital. This infuriated the DC and he threatened Dr Bhagat that he would get him sacked from his job. The DC directed his staff members to take the doctor to the police station.

The staff took him to the police station where he stayed for one and a half hour. Only after that, the doctor was let off.

Dr Bhagat told DTMT that he was humiliated by the DC and the DC used defamatory language for him that cannot be described in public.

“I felt very humiliated when the DC’s staff took me to the police station in front of 1500 people at the polling centre. I was later released. I discussed the whole issue with my staff and they decided to strike work,” added Dr Bhagat.

Dr Bhagat said that after the incident he and his family is under trauma. If anything happens to him and his wife only the DC will be responsible for it, he says.

Dr Bhagat said, “All the doctors' associations, including Jammu and Kashmir and Leh, have decided to strike work unless the DC is suspended. We have also written to the government.”

FORDA-India has requested the J&K Governor Mr Satpal Malik to intervene in the matter urgently and seek immediate appropriate action against the concerned DC to avoid the situation going out of control due to stubborn denial of offering of an apology by the DC.

The DC, on the other hand, has denied any confrontation with the doctor.