IMA, AMC, COA, API & ASI hold Candle Light Protest in Wake of Doctor’s Suicide in Mysuru
- Indian Medical Association (IMA-Mangaluru Chapter; Association of Medical Consultants (AMC)-Mangaluru; Canara Orthopaedic Association, (COA) Mangaluru; Association of Physicians of India (API) -Mangaluru; and Association of Surgeons of India (ASI)-Mangaluru, hold Candle Light Protest in Wake of Dr S R Nagendra’s (Nanjangud Taluk Health Officer) Suicide in Nanjangud, Mysuru on 20 August 2020- who was reportedly under pressure to ramp up Covid-19 testing in the Taluk, by ZP CEO Prasanth Kumar Mishra of Nanjangud, Mysuru.
Mangaluru: In solidarity to the Nanjangud Taluk Health Officer (THO) Dr S.R. Nagendra (43), who committed suicide by hanging self at his residence in Alanahalli, Mysuru on 20 August 2020. Sources reveal that Dr Nagendra who was reportedly under pressure to ramp up COVID-19 testing in the taluk is said to have not taken leave since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Dr Nagendra was found hanging at his residence on Thursday, 20 August morning. The Police who visited the spot did not find any suicide note in his house.
Dr S R Nagendra (Nanjangud Taluk Health Officer)
Doctors and other Health Department staff brought the body to the Office of the District Health Officer (DHO) in Nazarbad and staged a protest. The protesters held ZP CEO Prashanth Kumar Mishra responsible for the suicide of Dr Nagendra. Accusing ZP CEO Prashanth Kumar Mishra of setting unrealistic targets of Swab and RAT testing, the doctors and other medical staff vented out their ire against the ZP CEO upon his arrival at the spot, addressing him in singular in the presence of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhiram G. Sankar. Maintaining that Dr Nagendra had not taken even a single day leave since 15 June 2020 and was working every day, the protesters demanded the suspension of the ZP CEO pending an inquiry.
Meanwhile, an audio conversation purportedly between Nagendra and a senior district level officer who is heard taking him to task for not conducting enough tests went viral. “How many swabs have to be taken and how many are you extracting? Is it a joke? Have you come here to play? You are playing with the patients. For a week if you are conducting only 25 or 26 (COVID) tests (a day), then I will teach you a lesson. You were supposed to do 150 tests a day,” the officer is heard shouting at Dr Nagendra.
Speaking during the Candle Light protest in front of the IMA building, Hampankatta, Mangaluru Dr Annaya Kulal -the president of IMA-Mangaluru said, “Doctors are made to work under pressure and harsh conditions during this pandemic. Even if they are trying their best in doing their duties in taking care of the COVID-19 patients, they get blamed for unwanted reasons. It should be noted that doctors across the state, even in Mysuru are working with 60 percent staff shortage in most of the Hospitals. It’s not appropriate that doctors are given unrealistic targets of collecting throat swab samples, and are harassed if the target is not met. It’s sad to note that Dr Nagendra had to take the extreme step, due to all the pressure that was mounted on him by the ZP CEO and other officials. We the members of IMA, AMC and Canara Orthopaedic Association mourn the death of Dr Nagendra”. Dr K R Kamath-president of AMC-Mangaluru and Dr Naveen Kullal- President of KGMOA-Mangaluru also spoke on the occasion.
Sources also reveal that Dr Nagendra had written a letter to Mysuru DHO on 10 August 2020 appealing him to relieve him as Nanjangud THO, which he was temporarily put in charge. CM Yediyurappa, responding to an appeal from Karnataka Government Employees Association (KGEA) at Bengaluru, expressed his grief over the death of Nanjangud THO Dr Nagendra and has announced Rs. 50 lakh compensation, besides a Government job in the Higher Education Department to the deceased doctor’s wife, who holds a Doctoral degree on compassionate grounds. CM has also directed Regional Commissioner (RC) at Mysuru to conduct an impartial and comprehensive enquiry into the circumstances that led to the tragic incident and submit a report to the Government on the findings within a week. Meanwhile, doctors across the state have sought the suspension of ZP CEO and initiate a probe into the suicide of Dr Nagendra.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean Dr Sachidanand Rai-Past President of IMA-Mangaluru said, “We doctors are taking all the risk in fighting this pandemic and treating the COVID-10 patients with total risk, and also working under long hours and stress. Dr Nagendra was on COVID-19 duty and was tirelessly serving the people and his death is most unfortunate. He was under pressure to conduct more tests in Primary Health Centres of the Nanjangud taluk and he was working tirelessly without taking a break. Ever since the outbreak of coronavirus, Dr Nagendra has not taken any leave. He was staying alone for six months because he was afraid that his family may get the coronavirus. The Government should take steps to ease the pressure on the medical fraternity so that no other medical fraternity ends their lives due to such circumstances”.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) has threatened to stop work and go on strike from 24 August 2020, if the State Government does not grant compensation to families of doctors and health workers, who died while discharging their duties as front line Corona Warriors. Terming Dr Nagendra’s death as most unfortunate, KGMOA has said that Government Doctors will attend only emergency cases and stay away from COVID-19 duties.
