The India Post, Chandigarh, 6th september, 2008:Chandigarh, Sep 6, 2008 (Specttrum News) : The Indian Medical Association (IMA) state branches of Chandigarh and Punjab thanked the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal for taking considerate view of the medical fraternity for passing a Bill in the State Assembly for Assault on Doctors. Both the branches of IMA welcomed the decision of the Punjab Government in this regard.
Dr Zora Singh, president, IMA Chandigarh State branch said, "This was giving problems to a lot of genuine patients who were being referred to other hospitals because of the fear in the mind of the doctor that if there is any complication to the patient or in view of death of patient, some anti-social elements may not ransack the hospital and assault the doctor. So many patients died on their way to the higher centres which are located in far away places."
Even some Government run institutions were ransacked several times and government doctors were also assaulted by the attendants of the patient in case of his or her death. "After this Bill, the doctors will be free from any fear in their mind while treating the patients. IMA Punjab and Chandigarh state branches had this long pending demand for the Doctors’ Protection Bill," stated Dr Navjot Singh Dahiya, Secretary, IMA Punjab State Branch.
Dr Dahiya further added, "We pledge to support the Punjab Government on any help which the government will ask from the association. We are already working hand in hand with government for the control of tuberculosis." IMA thanked Dr DS Cheema, chief advisor to CM and Mr HS Bains, media advisor to CM, who helped this long pending demand to get fulfilled. IMA Punjab also appreciated Mr KD Bhandari, MLA –Jalandhar, who strongly took up the case with the government. Dr KK Bansal, Dr B D Bajaj and Dr RS Parmar were also present on the occasion. Dr A P Sanwaria thanked the Punjab government and the media alongwith Dr A K Kaushal.