Thu Nov 14 12:55:44 UTC 2024: ## Coimbatore Doctors Stage Protest, Boycott Services to Condemn Assault on Chennai Oncologist
**Coimbatore, November 14, 2024:** Doctors in Coimbatore have staged a protest and boycotted outpatient services and elective procedures to condemn the assault of a medical oncologist in Chennai. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved the son of a patient attacking the doctor at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Guindy.
Around 500 doctors, including house surgeons and postgraduate students, from the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) gathered in front of the Dean’s office on Thursday morning to express their outrage. The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Coimbatore branch, joined the protest.
Dr. N. Ravishankar, honorary chairperson of the TNGDA, demanded that the State government take immediate action to ensure the safety of doctors and medical students at their workplaces. He emphasized the need for trained, permanent security staff instead of outsourcing, a tagging system for patient attendants, and expedited filling of existing doctor vacancies to reduce workload.
The protest also received solidarity from associations of pharmacists, radiographers, village health nurses, and office staff.
While emergency services and non-elective procedures were unaffected, the number of patients attending the OP services at CMCH was significantly lower on Thursday. A similar protest took place at the ESI Hospital, with around 250 doctors participating.
The IMA Coimbatore branch, with approximately 2,700 doctors, also boycotted OP services and elective procedures from Wednesday evening to express their disapproval of the Chennai attack.
The protest highlights the growing concerns among medical professionals regarding their safety and the need for better security measures in hospitals.
First Piper 