SRINAGAR: In response to the recent assault on a resident doctor inside the SMHS Hospital emergency ward, the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar administration has formally addressed the incident. They have urged the public to cooperate with medical staff and called for improved regulation of hospital security systems.
On July 22-23, a critically ill patient was brought to the casualty section of SMHS Hospital. While doctors were assessing and stabilising the patient, one of the attendants accompanying him allegedly assaulted a resident doctor on duty. This sudden and unprovoked incident led to the hospital authorities lodging a First Information Report (FIR).
A CCTV footage was viral on social media, where the junior doctor was assaulted from behind. This incident sparked concern and condemnation from both colleagues and faculty. While the GMC administration condemned the attack, they maintained that medical services at the hospital remained uninterrupted throughout the night and the following day. Later in the evening, the person also apologised to the doctor, and that video was also on social media.
Mohammad Ashraf Hakak, Administrator, GMC Srinagar, confirmed the sequence of events and described the hospital’s official response to Kashmir Life.
“On July 22-23, a critically ill patient arrived in the casualty section. He was immediately attended to by the medical team. However, while the team was performing their duties, one of the patient’s attendants came from behind and physically assaulted a resident doctor. This was an unfortunate incident. The college administration condemned it immediately, and an FIR was registered with the police.” Hakak clarified that despite the assault, medical services were not affected.
“Doctors continued their duties without any disruption. No section was shut down, and no work was halted. The entire medical team at SMHS and other hospitals remained on duty throughout the night. The casualty department did not stop for even a moment.”
The incident has once again brought to the forefront the challenge of managing patient load and attendant crowds in Kashmir’s high-volume public hospitals. SMHS Hospital alone receives over 4,000 patients daily, many of them accompanied by multiple attendants.
“Each patient often brings three to four attendants. Some have no role, yet they crowd the corridors, and sometimes intervene in medical processes. That makes the doctor’s work difficult,” Hakak noted.
He also pointed to the rising trend of aggression in public hospitals. “This is not the first time violence has occurred. There is a pattern. People must understand that the doctor follows protocol. Treatment takes time. There is a system in place — a structured hierarchy of consultants, senior residents, postgraduates, and interns, all working in shifts as per roster. That system cannot function properly if people interfere.” Hakak said that public awareness is essential.
“It’s important that people understand how hospital systems work. They must allow doctors to do their job. We are requesting the public not to lose patience, especially in the emergency section, where the workload is heaviest.”
He confirmed that the doctor who was assaulted was attended to and has resumed duty. “The team showed restraint and professionalism. Services continued, and no department reported any disruption,” he added.
According to Hakak, the SMHS complex and associated hospitals under GMC Srinagar — including G.B. Pant, Super Specialty Hospital, LD, CD Hospital, and others — handle more than 27 lakh OPD cases annually and conduct hundreds of surgeries daily.
“We are not under-staffed. We get regular intake of senior residents and PGs. But the patient load is high. Regulation of hospital entry and a security mechanism is essential. When ten people walk in with a single patient, it becomes unmanageable.”
Responding to reports of journalists facing obstruction while covering the aftermath of the assault, Hakak denied any mishandling of the press. “We value media as a key link between the hospital and the public. If any such thing occurred, it was neither reported to us formally nor in our knowledge. The protest was peaceful. The doctors had a genuine concern. There is no question of anyone in the administration mishandling the press.”
On the suggestion that the emergency gate was shut following the incident, Hakak clarified, “There was confusion because the OPD gate closes at 5 PM. Emergency services continued as usual. I was present till 11:30 PM. Every patient who reported was treated. Even critically ill patients were managed without delay.”
The administrator said senior faculty, including Heads of Departments from Surgery, Medicine, Ophthalmology, and others, remained on-site through the night. “All faculty members remained present in the casualty. No patient was left unattended.”
He reiterated that while the hospital is fully functional with structured systems in place, there is a pressing need for improving security regulation, not only to protect medical staff but to ensure smooth functioning of services. “The doctor’s job is to treat the patient as per protocol. For that, a secure and cooperative environment is necessary.”
