Gujarat: IMA-AMA call for bandh on Friday

AHMEDABAD: To support the protest the order of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to city hospitals to shift ICUs to the ground floor, a state-wide bandh on Friday was called for by medical associations. Officials rejected any claims of an understanding on the issue.
On June 30, the Gujarat high court had through a verbal order instructed the state government to implement certain provisions at hospitals including having ICUs on the ground floor and removing glass facades.
The civic authorities in Ahmedabad have asked hospitals to implement this in seven days, said a note by the Gujarat state branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). "We will be supportive of any action to prevent fires in hospitals, but we strongly oppose the unilateral directives from the state government," said state president Dr Paresh Majmudar.
"A technical committee from all relevant departments should be formed to devise guidelines. The proposed change in ICU locations can cause health hazards." Dr Mehul Shah, secretary of IMA-GSB, said that on Friday, July 22, all 30,000-odd members in Gujarat will go on a day-long strike as a show of solidarity and to oppose the rule.