Doctors Stage Protest Outside Pune Collectorate, Demand Protection Against False Complaints and Attacks
Pune, 7th August 2026: Alleging a rise in attacks, intimidation and false police complaints against medical practitioners, members of the Doctors Protection Force staged a sit-in protest outside the Pune District Collector’s office on Friday. The protesters submitted a memorandum to Resident Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam, demanding stronger legal protection for doctors and fair treatment during police investigations.
Led by Doctors Protection Force chief coordinator Umesh Chavan, the protesters said incidents of physical assault, vandalism at hospitals and harassment following complaints by patients or their relatives have created an atmosphere of fear among doctors. They urged the administration to take immediate steps to safeguard medical professionals and prevent the misuse of legal procedures against them.
The organization demanded strict action against those involved in attacks on doctors and sought guidelines ensuring that police do not treat doctors as accused persons before a proper inquiry is conducted. It also called for sensitization of police personnel to uphold the dignity of the medical profession.
Among the other demands were regular coordination meetings involving doctors, the police, the health department and district administration, as well as the formation of a permanent district-level coordination committee to address issues related to doctors’ safety.
Doctors including Dr Shivraj Patil, Dr Mandar Savji, Dr Santosh Talekar, Dr Atul Sonawane, Dr Sameer Badami and Dr Siddharth Shinde participated in the protest. Aparna Marane Sathe of the Patients’ Rights Council and hundreds of supporters also joined the demonstration.
Speaking on the occasion, Umesh Chavan said, “Doctors can provide quality healthcare only when they feel safe. If doctors stop working, society will face serious consequences. Patients and their relatives should communicate calmly and respectfully with doctors so that medical professionals can perform their duties without fear.”
Dr Avasaf Ahmed said that while patients often regard doctors as lifesavers, they also need to recognize that doctors are human and always strive to save lives to the best of their ability. “When a patient’s condition becomes critical despite treatment, doctors are sometimes left with no further options. Unwarranted allegations and attempts to malign doctors and hospitals not only cause mental stress to medical professionals but also place an unnecessary burden on the police, administration and the justice system,” he said.
