"Nothing has changed. How can something like this still happen, someone attacking a doctor on duty in broad daylight? These doctors are not safe, they are not protected," says Mohandas, father of Dr Vandana Das, who was killed on May 10, 2023, when she was attacked by a drug addict while on duty at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in Kollam.

“When I heard the news, I thought of my daughter. On May 10, 2023, she was stabbed 27 times while caring for a patient. Everyone ran out of the hospital. She did not receive proper treatment for four and a half hours. The recent incident is just horrible,” he told Onmanorama."It is the government’s responsibility to protect them. Still, it is failing," he added.

On Wednesday, a casualty medical officer on duty at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital was hacked by a man. Dr Vipin PT, who sustained a skull fracture, was shifted to Baby Memorial Hospital. He was reportedly attacked by Sunup, the father of a nine-year-old girl who died of amoebic meningoencephalitis two months ago.

“These attacks on doctors and medical staff keep happening. After our daughter’s death made headlines, we hoped no one else would get hurt. My family and I are praying for the young doctor who was injured. We hope he recovers soon.”

“At the end of the day, it’s our loss. We lost our daughter. She was my everything, my life. She wanted to serve society. Another incident has now occurred, but people will soon forget it. Only when something similar happens again will the issue be remembered.”

The trial in Dr Vandana’s murder case is currently underway. The examination of the first 65 witnesses listed in the chargesheet submitted by the police has been completed. More than two years after her death, the family has not yet received justice. Her parents, K G Mohandas and Vasantha Kumari, opened a clinic in her memory in Thrikkunnapuzha, Alappuzha. A hospital named in her honour is expected to open in Kottayam. They have also set up a charitable trust in her name, pledging their entire wealth to the cause. The trust, which will also support students’ education, is backed by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Union Minister Suresh Gopi.