Sufi Hidayah, a female journalist, was heckled, pushed by a group of protesting doctors at SMHS Hospital on Wednesday while reporting on a strike that had brought healthcare services to a standstill.
The doctors, angered by the alleged assault of a resident doctor by a patient’s attendant, locked the hospital gates and withdrew services, leaving even emergency patients without care.
“I was just trying to interview doctors about their protest,” Sufi Hidayah told
“They suddenly cornered me, tried to pull my clothes and force me out of the spot. One of them shouted, ‘We don’t need the media here, get out of here.’ They called us unprofessional and even tried to stop patients from talking to us.”
The situation at the hospital had already grown tense by the time she arrived at around 6 p.m. Gates had been locked, and dozens of patients, including those in urgent need of treatment, were being denied entry.
One of the most distressing scenes involved a man from Pulwama carrying his young son who had suffered an electric shock. “My child has been electrocuted. He needs urgent help. But they’ve locked the gates. Who will be responsible if he dies?” the father said, standing helplessly outside.
The doctors initiated the strike after a resident doctor was allegedly slapped by a patient’s attendant, prompting a sit-in and closure of services.
The accused has said that his anger was a reaction to the death of his brother-in-law. “I asked them several times to put my relative on oxygen, the doctors did not. On the contrary, the doctors insulted us for being ignorant,” the accused slapper said.
The protesting doctors demanded action against the accused and better safety measures for healthcare workers.
However, their protest drew sharp criticism from patients’ families and onlookers, who accused the doctors of prioritizing their internal grievances over human lives. “We understand their anger,” said one woman waiting outside, “but they’ve shut the hospital to people who are in pain. That’s inhumane.”
The harassment of Sufi Hidayah has also sparked outrage in journalistic circles. “We are here to report the truth, not to be pushed, insulted, or silenced,” she said after leaving the hospital.
An SMHS official confirmed that a police case had been filed against the person who allegedly assaulted the doctor, and efforts were underway to mediate between doctors, police, and administration to restore normal hospital operations.
Meanwhile, journalist have condemned the attack on Sufi Hidayah, calling it a violation of press freedom and an unacceptable attempt to block public accountability.
By Firdous Qadri