Bhopal: Acting tough, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, dean on Wednesday suspended four junior doctors as they continued with their strike despite imposition of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). The four junior doctors were perusing the PG course at the college.
Commissioner (medical education) Sheo Shekhar Shukla claimed that health services are inching towards normalcy. Junior doctors in government-run hospitals in Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur and Rewa went on indefinite strike on Wednesday to press for their various demands, including a hike in stipend.
The government has clamped Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to thwart the indefinite strike, however undeterred juniors doctors are continuing with the strike on the third day. Doctors and paramedical staff from Vidisha medical college have been called to take charge of the GMC, said Shukla. In all 213 nurses, 30 medical officers, 45 senior resident and 31 doctors, have taken the responsibility and discharging the assigned duties, said the officer.
GMC dean Dr Songara informed that on Wednesday 1628 patients were treated at OPD, 61 patients were admitted, while 103 patients were discharged from the hospital. Ten operations were successfully performed at the hospital, claimed the dean. He also said that paramedical staff returned to their duties on Wednesday.
The Commissioner informed that at Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore as many as 2041 patients were treated at OPD, while in normal course the on an average 1900 OPD cases comes daily. Similarly 112 patients were admitted, 17 major and 54 minor operations were conducted. 96 –X-rays, 130 sonography, 9-CT scans and 3 MRIs were conducted on the day. 15 normal deliveries and 10 obstructed deliveries were reported on the day. Nearly 285 patients were given emergency treatment and the pathology gave reports of 1605 patients.
In the hospital, 265 nurses, out of 576 are on strike and to fill the gap 296 nurses were called from other hospitals. Similarly, 59 doctors have been called from other hospitals, of which 31 have joined.
Medical staff from Vidisha, Khandwa rushed to Bhopal, Indore
Commissioner Sheo Shekhar Shukla informed that all the striking nurses of mental hospital Gwalior have resumed their duties on Tuesday. The medical staff from Vidisha has been sent to Bhopal, medical teams from Khandwa and Ratlam have rushed to Indore; from Datia and Shivpuri to Gwalior; from Chhindwara to Jabalpur and from Shahdol to Rewa.
Deans of all new colleges have been asked to issue orders for deputation of all assistant professors to the existing college nearest them for a week to compensate for JUDA. They were asked to report to duties from Wednesday. All faculty/SRs/JRs from new college to existing college shall be treated on tour and shall be paid TA/DA by the college where they are deputed as applicable to class I officer of state government.
For the requirement of paramedics and nurses, the DME will coordinate with respective councils to arrange from government and private colleges of the same districts. It has been instructed to use full potential of nurses from GNM schools.
Directions have been issued to press all MBBS, interns, in-service, junior residents and senior residents and assistant professors into service to compensate PG students also depute SRs of clinical subjects. Also welcome and protect those who want to come back.