Students of VSS Medical College stage a demonstration against the government’s decision to close the college indefinitely and demand action against culprits. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Sambalpur/Bhubaneswar, Sept. 9: Outdoor services at Veer Surendra Sai (VSS) Medical College and Hospital resumed functioning today.

The situation in Burla has returned to normal after clashes between local residents and junior doctors a few days ago. However, junior doctors continue to stay away from the hospital and this has affected the out patients’ services considerably.

The administration had imposed prohibitory orders and had closed the college for an indefinite period on September 5 to avoid further untoward incidents.

VSS Medical College and Hospital superintendent Guna Sagar Das said: “The situation is peaceful. The outdoor facilities are functioning properly but the absence of junior doctors has affected the services considerably.”

In a related development, the agitating students today went to Bhubaneswar to continue their strike demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.

About 500 students under the banners of Students’ Union, the Junior Doctors Association and the House Surgeon Association squatted at PMG Square holding placards and shouting slogans such as “stop gundaraaj”. Yesterday, the protesters had met SCB Medical College students and sought their support.

“We will continue peaceful protest till the government agrees to our demand. The students’ union of SCB Medical College at Cuttack and MKCG Medical College at Berhampur have also agreed to support us. They have even agreed to join us here if immediate steps are not taken,” said Surya Prakash Chaudhry , general secretary of the union.

“In the absence of junior doctors, the services at the hospital have been hit. We have engaged non-clinical doctors here,” said Das. “There are 818 beds at the hospital and there are not enough doctors. The patients were being treated with the help of postgraduate students,” he said.

“There are more than 200 postgraduate students at the VSS Medical College in Burla. The postgraduate students play an important role in providing service to the patients,” said Santosh Behera, principal of the medical college.

“The administration should take initiatives to resolve the stalemate. Otherwise, the patients will suffer,” Behera added.

However, a hospital staff member said there has been a dip in the number of patients coming to the hospital and added that incessant rain could be one of the factors.

“Doctors in the outdoor advise the patients and the postgraduate students usually help by guiding the patients,” said Ramakanta Pradhan, an attendant of a patient. “The patients here are facing problems because of the absence of junior doctors,” he said.

“The administration should take stringent action against those responsible for the situation in Burla. Junior doctors are the backbone of a hospital. The health service in the hospital has been paralysed because of the absence of junior doctors,” Gopal Lal, social worker and a resident of Burla, said.

“Thousands of people are suffering because of a few individuals. The government should provide security to the students in the hospital. We were opposed to the closing down of the outdoors by the medical students but the administration must resolve the issue without any further delay,” he added.