Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Talks with junior doctors fail

By Our Staff Reporter

Hyderabad Dec. 22. The Government failed to reach any understanding with the striking junior doctors during yet another round of talks between them and the Health Minister, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, here on Monday night.

Dr. Rao told The Hindu that the Government was willing to concede fully the 12 demands relating to career and curriculum of the striking doctors, but was not willing to negotiate on four other issues which did not concern them.

He said that representatives of the striking doctors had agreed to the Government's position in the morning but "they have gone back by evening." He said that even on the issue of GO MS 90, he offered the striking medicos to nominate two of their representatives to sit with two Government officials and suggest modifications, but this offer was rejected.

He said that it was not possible to unilaterally cancel the licence of non-functioning private medical colleges but the Government could consider not issuing licences to any further private colleges.

S. Suresh Kumar of the AP Junior Doctors' Association, said that the Government refused to consider their three main demands regarding scrapping of paid seats in medical colleges, scrapping of GO MS 90 and stop sanction of further private medical colleges in the State. He said that the Government offered to change the three per cent paid seats in undergraduate course into NRI quota, "which was the same thing under another name." Further, he claimed that the Government was not even ready to discuss reduction of user charges under GO MS 90 and rejected their demand to cancel licences of non-functioning private colleges.

He said that the junior doctors were steadfast on continuing their strike and further decisions regarding intensification of action would be taken at the Joint Action Committee meeting.

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