Jaipur: Resident doctors shun work to protest govt’s bond policy

JAIPUR: Healthcare services remained affected at outpatient department (OPD) at Sawai Man Singh Hospital where resident doctors boycotted work against “bond” policy of the state government on Thursday.
However, the emergency services, trauma care, labour rooms and ICUs remained unaffected as the resident doctors continued working at these places for taking care of patients needing immediate treatment.
The agitating resident doctors gathered at Statue Circle where they raised slogans against the state government.
“We have been making efforts for five months to resolve our issues but no decision has been taken by the government. We are waiting till evening hoping for fruitful talks with the government on our demands to end our boycott of work in the interest of the patients,” said Dr Neeraj Damor, president, Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors.
Dr Damor said that they have not boycotted work in ICUs and other emergency services keeping in mind the interest of the patients. However, he said that if their demands are not fulfilled, they will intensify their agitation.
For two days, resident doctors had been protesting by wearing black ribbons against the government, calling its decision of implementing ‘service bond’ as “immature and taken in a hurry” for making government service mandatory for resident doctors passing out after completing PG medical courses.
They alleged that after five months have passed of examination of PG courses, the government is beginning implementing ‘bond policy’ from October, for five months PG doctors are sitting idle and to compensate, the government should pay them five months salaries.