Patients left in lurch as doctors’ bandh hits outpatient services in Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: The doctors of private hospitals across the State on Thursday observed a bandh in protest against the Clinical Establishment Act, which was passed by the State Assembly on Wednesday. The outpatient (OP) wing of many private hospitals across the State remained closed. However, emergency services functioned in all hospitals.

Meanwhile, the protesting doctors warned of extending their strike if the State government failed to take a favourable decision in the matter. Addressing a press conference at the IMA Hall in Vijayawada, Dr Jayasekhar, president of AP IMA, said, “The State government cheated us and passed the Central government’s Clinical Establishment Act in the Assembly, even though it was not listed for the session. This is as worse as the State bifurcation bill. It was passed in the absence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Health Minister, without any discussion.

Today, we closed the OP services. However, the emergency services were functioned. If the bill comes for discussion in the Council, then we will shut hospitals completely.”Thousands of patients across the State left in the lurch as majority of private hospitals closed their OP wing without prior notice after the bandh call given by the Indian Medical Association.

The doctors said they are opposing the Clinical Establishment Act as they are already under the Andhra Pradesh Private Establishment Act, which came into effect in 2002 and amended in 2007. At present, all fire safety guidelines and infrastructure measures were being followed under the AP Private Establishment Act.Former IMA president, Dr. Gangadhar said, “As of now, we are following certain procedures in our medical services. If a small clinic is unable to cure a patient who requires additional advanced treatment, he would be referred to another hospital.

But now, with the implementation of the Clinical Establishment Act, everyone must possess high-end infrastructure, which will be a burden for the doctors. There are so many flaws with the Act and that is why we are opposing it since 2010. The Act is meant for backward states like northeastern states, not for those states which are already under a controlling body.”Majority of the doctors across various cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada participated in the bandh.

108 ambulance workers strike work

Contract employees of 108 ambulance services launched a 24-hour protest demanding regularisation of their service here on Thursday.  “Outsourcing employees’ demands are genuine and the government should solve their demands with immediate effect,” said MLC Y Srinivasula Reddy.  He promised the protesting employees that he would raise the issue in the Council.

The 108 Contract Employees’ Union organised a protest camp and over 100 contract employees took part in the protest.“The government should take measures to release the pending salaries from previous contractor GVK EMRI,” demanded general secretary K V V Narasimha Rao.