Condemns attack on doctor at Perumbavoor

The Kerala chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged political parties and other organisations to exempt doctors and health caregivers from hartals.

The IMA is also planning to implead in the proceedings suo motu taken up by the Kerala High Court against Youth Congress State president Dean Kuriakose, United Democratic Front Kasaragod district convener M.C. Kamarudeen and Kasaragod District Congress Committee secretary A. Govindan Nair who had given the hartal call.

The IMA functionaries pointed out that on Monday, during the Congress hartal, Sherif, a psychiatrist at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district had lost his hearing sense when protesters hit on his face. His eardrum had been damaged in the attack.

Dr. Sherif, 53, was waylaid by the protesters despite they were told that he was on his way to the hospital to attend an emergency case. His vehicle and mobile phone were damaged too. A complaint had been lodged with the local police against the attackers.

M.E. Sugathan, president, IMA Kerala chapter, told The Hindu on Wednesday that it was the patients who were forced to bear the brunt of hartals. Though organisations always declare that milk distribution, media, and medical fraternity were exempted from the purview of hartals, the situation on the ground seemed to be different.

Most often health professionals were found to be at the receiving end of protesters. Dr. Sugathan demanded that the police invoke provisions of the Kerala Health Service Persons and Healthcare Services Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012 against those who attacked Dr. Sherif, which would make their offence non-bailable. It would also act as a deterrent in future, he said.