Junior doctors, led by AP Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA), tied black cloths around their mouths and took out a silent rally on the premises of the King George Hospital seeking early settlement of their demands, as their strike entered the seventh day here on Wednesday.
The strike resulted in patients facing hardships, particularly, in the OP (Out Patient) Department, where huge crowds were seen.
The junior doctors are demanding among other things registration of their degrees immediately on completion of their MBBS or PG course, payment of arrears of stipend and hiking the stipend once in every two years.
APJUDA Core Committee member Srija said till yesterday (Tuesday) APJUDA president’s panel meetings were held and changes were made in the panel.
Dr. Mukesh and Dr. Kondandaram Jammu from Andhra Medical College had participated in the discussions.
She said the doctors from Guntur had joined the strike yesterday and those from Tirupati and Vijayawada were to join the strike but were staging protests..
Dr. Srija said the junior doctors had formed rosters and emergencies were being attended despite the strike. She said electives and new admissions have reduced.
Candle light protest
Later in the evening, a candle light protest was organised by the junior doctors near the VUDA Central Park.
“We are restricting the admission of new cases, where there was no emergency in view of the strike. Old cases and surgeries are being attended. The demand for release of arrears of stipend has been met in the case of house surgeons and it would be done soon in the case of PGs,” Dr. G. Arjuna, Superintendent, told The Hindu on Wednesday.
He said Dr. P.V. Sudhakar, who is also a member of the A.P. Medical Council, had told him a decision on the demand for registration of degrees on completion of MBBS or PG course, could be taken only by the government.
