Medical Services Paralyzed as Staff Demand Action Against Accusers; Emergency Services Remain Operational
Faridkot: In a strong show of unity, doctors, nurses, and support staff at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital (GGSMCH) launched a strike on Friday, condemning what they termed as “baseless and defamatory” allegations circulated on social media. The strike led to a complete suspension of services across all departments, except for emergency care.
The protesting medical community alleged that certain social media influencers have been spreading false accusations of corruption and negligence against hospital officials, damaging the institution’s reputation without credible evidence.
The protest received support from multiple professional bodies, including:
- Medical Teachers’ Association
- Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA)
- Nursing Association
- Students’ Association
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Civil Hospital Association
In a joint statement reported by The Tribune India, the protestors said:
“Despite our best efforts, certain mischievous elements have been spreading misleading content on social media aimed at defaming the institution.”
They expressed concern that such allegations have demoralized the medical fraternity and shaken public confidence in the premier government-run hospital. A resident doctor added,
“There is no truth to these claims. We demand the government take strict legal action against those who are spreading such misinformation.”
The protest drew the attention of local AAP MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon, who met with the striking staff and accepted a memorandum of demands. He assured them that he would escalate the issue to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, promising support in protecting the institution’s integrity.
This protest comes amid broader controversy involving the hospital’s parent institution — Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). Senior AAP leader Arsh Sachar has levelled allegations of corruption in procurement and nepotism in recruitment against BFUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajeev Sood.
In response, Dr. Sood has denied the charges, stating:
“All university processes, including procurement and recruitment, are carried out in a transparent and regulated manner. If anyone has evidence, they should present it through proper legal channels.”
As the situation unfolds, healthcare services in Faridkot remain crippled, with mounting pressure on the state government to restore normalcy and address the concerns of both medical professionals and the public.
