A doctor specialising in oncology was critically injured on Wednesday after being stabbed by a patient’s relative at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) in Guindy, reports The Indian Express.
The attack, which took place in the hospital’s oncology department, has sparked protests from medical professionals demanding action on safety and staffing conditions in government hospitals.
Dr. Balaji Jagannath, 38, was on duty when Vignesh, 26, of Perungalathur, along with three friends, entered the hospital at around 10.30 am to visit his mother, who is receiving cancer treatment. Police said that the group had a heated argument with Dr. Jagannath over the woman’s deteriorating condition, during which Vignesh accused the doctor of negligence.
In an escalation of the dispute, Vignesh allegedly drew a kitchen knife and stabbed Dr. Jagannath in the neck and upper body. Hospital staff and bystanders quickly intervened, and Dr. Jagannath was rushed to the ICU in critical condition. The attacker was apprehended, and Vignesh, along with four others, was taken into police custody for further questioning.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the attack, calling it “shocking” and vowing to ensure Dr. Jagannath receives “necessary treatment.”
“Doctor working at Kindi Kalyan Centenary Hospital Mr. Shocking incident where Balaji was stabbed by a family member of the patient. The person involved in this atrocity was immediately arrested. Doctor Mr. I have ordered Balaji to give them all the necessary treatment and to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident,” Stalin wrote in a post on X.
“The selfless work of our government doctors is immeasurable in providing appropriate treatment to the patients who seek government hospitals regardless of time. It is our duty to ensure their safety during this work,” he noted, adding that,” The government will take all measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.”
However, the attack has reignited concerns over the shortage of medical staff in the state’s public health system. As of October 2024, nearly 30% of doctor positions in Tamil Nadu’s government hospitals remain unfilled, with approximately 5,000 vacancies out of 18,000 sanctioned posts. This shortage is expected to worsen by early 2025 as many doctors leave for postgraduate studies.
Doctors’ associations are demanding urgent action to address these gaps in staffing, which they say contribute to heightened stress and conflict in hospitals. “Patients and bystanders who come here are already in distress. The workload makes doctors helpless, failing a system that is supposed to be informed and coordinated. If the government appoints an adequate number of doctors, things will improve significantly,” said a senior doctor in Chennai, who spoke on condition of anonymity, The Indian Express reported.
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In response to the attack, doctors at KCSSH have launched a protest, halting non-emergency services. They are calling for enhanced security measures and for the government to urgently address the staffing crisis in public hospitals.
As of now, Dr. Jagannath is undergoing surgery, and his condition remains critical. Police continue their investigation into the incident.