Chandigarh, Oct 20 (IANS) The indefinite strike by doctors that crippled health services in a premier medical institute here was called off on the first day Monday after a written apology from an assistant professor over his alleged misbehaviour with a senior resident.Over 800 resident doctors of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) went on the strike in the morning after the brawl.

Much to the agony of people, the services in the Out Patient Department (OPD) were badly hit. Many patients who required immediate attention bore a worried look as no doctors were available to treat them during the day.

Santosh Kumar, the assistant professor of the urology department, allegedly physically assaulted and hurled abuses at Sanand Kumar, the senior resident doctor Wednesday.

The scuffle took place on the issue of a case list in Operation Theatre (OT), which is prepared by Sanand in the department of urology. On seeing his patient’s number at the last spot, Santosh lost his temper and slapped Sanand in front of the OT staff and other technicians.

Kumar later tendered a written apology following which the strike was called off.

“Keeping the interest of thousands of patients coming here everyday, we have decided to end the strike. The accused doctor has submitted a written apology in front of the other senior colleagues,” Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) president Prabhu Shanker told IANS.

The absence of doctors paralysed normal functioning of the OPD at the institute. Most of the scheduled surgeries were cancelled as majority of the senior residents observed strike.

The senior residents at the PGIMER had also gone on one-day mass casual leave Saturday following the controversy.

The PGIMER, one of the leading and well-equipped hospital and medical colleges of North India, came into existence in 1962.