The Hindu : Front Page : Government hardens stand on stir

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Saturday, Apr 15, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Government hardens stand on stir

Special Correspondent

Health Minister says no talks till junior doctors call off strike

HYDERABAD: The Government has toughened its stand on the striking junior doctors and ruled out holding talks with them till they call off their agitation. The all-party meeting slated for April 16 too will not take place now.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Health Minister K. Rosaiah said the junior doctors had gone back on their word and surprisingly wanted to continue the strike and hence the Government felt there was no point in holding further meetings. There will be no initiative from the Government's side. Even otherwise, the issue was before the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

On the High Court's directions to the Government, he said they would be implemented in toto and it would be ensured that patients were not put to inconvenience. The Government had already submitted a detailed report on how it was tackling the strike and making alternative arrangements.

Asked if the Government planned to requisition the services of the military and private doctors, as suggested by the court, he said it would abide by whatever order was given by it.

The junior doctors were saying one thing to the court and doing quite another on the field, Mr Rosaiah said.

He said he was personally against doctors going on strike, as it was a "pious service-oriented profession."

The survival of patients depends on them.

Court directive

The High Court has asked the Government to initiate contempt proceedings against members of the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) for going on strike in violation of an earlier order passed by it. A Bench of the court which issued orders in this regard on Friday also directed the Government to seek the services of private doctors and doctors attached to aided hospitals to ensure medicare in its institutions.

The Bench further directed the Government not to sanction leave to any of the in-service doctors in view of the contingency situation till the strike came to an end. It asked the Government to seek help and aid of the doctors attached to army and other defence services.

The court was dealing with a public interest litigation filed by Dr.C.L.Venkat Rao, challenging the strike of junior doctors in support of their demands since April 5. The Government on Friday filed a statement as directed by the bench on Thursday, informing the court about the steps taken in providing medical facilities to patients in the State.

The Principal Secretary of Medical and Health filed an affidavit stating that the Government was taking adequate steps to provide medical facilities to the needy in view of the contingency situation.

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