The Hindu : Front Page : Hundreds of junior doctors arrested

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Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

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Hundreds of junior doctors arrested

Special Correspondent

`Jail bharo' programme launched by striking medicos in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: Several hundred striking junior doctors were arrested by the police at different places in the State on Tuesday as the High Court expressed displeasure over the statements of senior officials interpreting its directions.

The Government declared that it was not using the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the junior doctors though it had invoked its provisions on Monday. This followed the High Court's observations that it did not appreciate the interpretation of its orders by the Principal Secretary, Health, I. V. Subba Rao.

Some 260 doctors were taken into custody in Kurnool town, about 100 in Warangal and another 60 at the Osmania Medical College here when they staged a sit-in near the entrance after the police prevented them from demonstrating and distributing pamphlets.

Earlier, the police took into custody, Sandhya, president of the Progressive Women's Organisation, when she entered the Osmania Medical College campus, ignoring warnings from the police.

Tension prevailed near the Amberpet police station in the city after scores of junior doctors staged a dharna protesting against the detention APJUDA president, Suresh Babu, when he went there following the arrest of medicos at OMC.

Breaking ranks from the rest of the agitating doctors, 11 house surgeons and 20 post-graduate students resumed duty at Gandhi Hospital in the city.

The Government's invitation to MBBS doctors to turn up for recruitment drew poor response. As against 1,000 doctors the Government planned to hire, only 50 doctors, including those who had retired, could be recruited at the walk-in interviews conducted by the Director of Medical Education, Sai Gopal.

Confusion created?

Criticising their arrests as "unjustified", Mr.Suresh Babu accused the Government of trying to create confusion and asserted that the strike, which entered the fourth day on Tuesday, would continue. He said that "jail bharo" programme had been launched by junior doctors in various towns.

The Agriculture Minister, N. Raghuveera Reddy, told reporters after meeting the Chief Minsiter, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, that the Government had not invoked ESMA. It was duty-bound to take action as per law and the junior doctors were arrested as the last resort. Action would be taken against the medicos as planned earlier. This included their suspension.

He, however, said that he was hopeful that the strike would be resolved in an amicable manner. He said the private medical hospitals, nursing homes, Red Cross and other organisations had cooperated with Government to provide healthcare to the poor people.

The recruitment of doctors on an ad hoc basis would continue for the next few days.

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