A resident doctor at Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s (KDMC) Shastrinagar Hospital has resigned from his position following an alleged assault by a Shiv Sena corporator and his supporters inside the hospital premises, raising fresh concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals in public hospitals.
The 26-year-old Resident Medical Officer (RMO), who holds a BAMS degree, said he decided to leave both his job and the city after allegedly receiving threatening phone calls and fearing further attacks.
According to the doctor, the incident occurred while he and other healthcare workers were on duty in the hospital’s labour ward. A pregnant woman requiring emergency delivery was expected to need admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). However, the hospital’s only emergency NICU bed was already occupied by another critically ill newborn.
The medical team advised shifting the patient to another KDMC hospital equipped with available NICU facilities. The patient’s relatives allegedly refused the transfer and demanded immediate admission at the same hospital.
The doctor alleged that he later received repeated phone calls from a local Shiv Sena corporator demanding that an NICU bed be arranged immediately. When informed that no bed was available, the corporator allegedly threatened him over the phone.
Shortly afterwards, a group of individuals allegedly entered the labour ward, verbally abused the medical staff, damaged hospital property and physically assaulted doctors, nurses and other hospital employees. The doctor claimed he was repeatedly punched and struck on the head, while another woman doctor, nurses and a hospital attendant were also allegedly assaulted.
Despite the attack, the medical team completed arrangements to safely transfer the pregnant woman to another KDMC facility with NICU services, ensuring continuity of care.
Following the incident, the resident doctor submitted his resignation, stating that he no longer felt safe returning to the hospital. Other staff members who were allegedly assaulted have also reportedly resigned or stayed away from work, citing security concerns.
Police have registered a case against the Shiv Sena corporator and several others under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to assault on public servants, causing hurt, criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly and rioting. The corporator was subsequently arrested, while several associates were also taken into custody.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from the medical community across Maharashtra. Resident doctors’ associations, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and medical student organisations have demanded strict legal action against those responsible and stronger security measures at healthcare institutions.
Healthcare organisations have reiterated that violence against doctors and hospital staff is unacceptable and have urged authorities to ensure a safe working environment for medical professionals while enabling uninterrupted patient care.
