Srinagar, Aug 15: The Indian Medical Association–Medical Students Network (IMA-MSN), GMC Srinagar, on Saturday urged the Health and Medical Education Department to frame a policy for providing ex-gratia assistance to families of intern doctors who lose their lives in circumstances arising out of or in the course of their official duties.
The demand came a day after Dr Ahjaz Ul Islam, an intern doctor from Gunthal village of Surankote in Poonch, who was pursuing his internship at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, died after developing pneumonia and suffering complications at CD Hospital.
Aaqib Ali Khan, Convenor of IMA-MSN, GMC Srinagar, urged the government to consider extending ex-gratia assistance to the family of Dr Ahjaz, who died following an illness reportedly contracted during his period of hospital duty.
The death of the young doctor has left the medical fraternity and his family deeply distressed, with medical students and professionals also calling for stronger welfare and safety measures for intern doctors working in hospitals.
Aaqib, a final-year MBBS student at GMC Srinagar, said that while death is inevitable, the circumstances surrounding the death of a young doctor serving in a government hospital warrant consideration of institutional responsibility, particularly where there may be a possible occupational link between an illness and patient-care duties.
“Where a young doctor loses his life in the course of duty, the government should consider appropriate ex-gratia assistance to the bereaved family,” he said.
He said intern doctors are qualified medical professionals who form an important part of the frontline healthcare workforce and regularly come into contact with patients suffering from various illnesses while performing their assigned duties, which may expose them to occupational health risks.
Aaqib said the circumstances of Dr Ahjaz’s death warrant consideration of relief for his family, subject to appropriate verification of whether the illness had an occupational nexus with his official duties.
He urged the government to frame a clear policy for providing ex-gratia assistance to families of intern doctors who lose their lives in the course of their official duties.
“Families invest years of effort and their lifetime’s resources in educating their children to become doctors. When a young doctor loses his life while serving the public healthcare system, the State must ensure that the family does not feel abandoned,” Aaqib said.
He said the issue should be considered beyond the present case, adding that a transparent policy would provide institutional support to families of doctors who may face similar tragedies in the future.
The demand comes as the medical fraternity continues to mourn the untimely demise of Dr Ahjaz, with colleagues and students expressing grief over the loss of a young doctor at the beginning of his professional career.
Aaqib said Dr Ahjaz’s death should not merely be mourned but should also prompt the authorities to review the welfare, safety and institutional protection available to doctors and interns serving in government healthcare institutions.
