Doctors threaten to quit as talks fail

JAIPUR: Agitating government doctors met health minister Kalicharan Saraf over their 33 pending demands on Wednesday.

"The talks have failed. We will continue our agitation," said, Dr Ajay Chaudhary, president All Rajasthan In Service Doctors Association.

He said that they will submit their mass resignation to the state government on October 29, which will be effective from November 6. The doctors demanded in written from the health department about their fulfilment of their demands. They also demanded that an RAS officer, who has recently been given posting of additional director (gazetted), should also be replaced from a doctor. Earlier, the post was held by a doctor.

"We are not satisfied with the response we have got for our demands. We are demanding increase in rural allowance, separate hazardous service allowance and time bound promotions. Also, we are demanding that hospitals should open in one shift only rather than in two shifts," said Dr Chaudhary.

Dr Chaudhary said that more than 10,000 doctors will submit their resignation in a maha sammelan to be organised in the city on October 29.

Besides, the doctors have boycotted work which is apart from providing consultation to the patients in hospitals. The doctors are not cooperating in routine works of the department from October 2. For the past four months, the doctors have been protesting. Once they have gone on mass leave for a day in August.

The agitating doctors and the health department officials met to resolve the issues but no solution has been found till date.