Services in Govt hosps crippled

Services in government hospitals associated with five main government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh were adversely affected after junior doctors along with Class III and Class IV employees stayed off the work on Monday. The Junior Doctors Association (JDA) has already given a call for indefinite strike.

Despite the State government on Monday invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), the JDA continued its strike.

Hundreds of patients in hospitals associated with Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Rewa government medical colleges services came to a standstill.

Jabalpur’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, dean Dr Navneet Saxena confirmed that FIR has been filed against absentee doctors. Similar situation is expected to be replicated at other medical colleges, with junior doctors being issued notices about ESMA declaring as illegal the doctors stir which has would severely affected functioning of government-run hospitals.

About 1,200 strong MP JDA president, Dr Sachet Saxena said, “After a meeting it has been decided that junior doctors would continue to stay off-duty, until our demands are met.”

One of the primary demands includes a raise in monthly stipend by about Rs 2,000. Current junior doctor stipend is Rs 4,500 per month.

JDA announcement to stay off-duty came after a meeting with top directorate of medical education (DME) officials.

Additional Chief Secretary and Medical Education Principal Secretary Radheshyam Julania told, “It has been made clear to the JDA representatives that confrontation is not the way forward. They sought time for another meeting for July 31. If they have resorted to still remaining on strike and off-duty, law would take its own course.” He maintained that government had contingencies in place to meet the situation.