Ranchi: The Ranchi civil surgeon has banned protests and demonstrations on the Sadar Hospital premises and restricted attendants to one per patient, days after the district administration made prior permission mandatory for public agitations across the city.Civil surgeon Dr Amarendra Prasad said on Tuesday that the measures were intended to prevent overcrowding, ensure uninterrupted medical services and minimise inconvenience to patients.“The order is aimed at ensuring smooth functioning of the hospital and preventing overcrowding on its premises. Organising protests and demonstrations by patients and their attendants have been banned on the hospital premises as it disrupts the functioning and hampers service delivery to patients,” Prasad told TOI.He warned that legal action would be initiated against anyone violating the directive.The order follows chaos at the hospital on Aug 15, when hospitalised hunger strikers protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations were prevented from joining the Tiranga (tricolour) padayatra. The protesters allegedly raised slogans and staged a demonstration inside the hospital, disrupting its functioning.The district administration had on Sunday directed political parties, social organisations, institutions and citizens to obtain permission before holding protests, demonstrations, processions, rallies or meetings in public places. Officials cited law and order, public safety and traffic management concerns.Sadar Hospital has witnessed several protests in recent months. In July, around 300 nurses and contractual National Health Mission workers demonstrated over non-payment of salaries. In Sept last year, health workers suspended services and staged a sit-in after a scuffle with relatives of an admitted patient.Welcoming the directive, a hospital doctor, requesting anonymity, said, “Many protests and demonstrations had taken place at the hospital over minor inconveniences in the past jeopardising safety of on-duty health workers. The new directive preventing such protests will ensure our safety.”Hospital authorities said the restriction on attendants would also help regulate crowding in wards and corridors.
