The Hindu : Front Page : Kodiyeri warns IMA against strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 09, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Kodiyeri warns IMA against strike

Special Correspondent

Minister says agitation will be tantamount to supporting bribery

Government not averse to holding talks, says Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has warned the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against its proposed medical strike on Friday.

The Home Minister said here on Monday that the IMA had raised issues that the Government could not possibly intervene and settle. The strike was tantamount to supporting bribery and corruption in the medical profession. He did not expect such an action from an organisation of IMA's standing. Besides, the action could be viewed only as a stir against the courts, he said.

Giving a graphic account of the case relating to the arrest of Dr. Asokan at Kottayam Medical College recently, the Minister said the doctor had been remanded to custody by the Vigilance Court in bribery case, while the Ettumanoor Chief Judicial Magistrate had granted him bail in the case related to negligence of duty.

The charge that procedures were not followed while arresting Dr. Asokan did not hold water. He was arrested under extraordinary circumstances in the face of strong public protest. There was no rationale behind IMA's decision to pick up an issue that had been raised by the Kerala Medical College Teachers Association and had been settled through the Health Minister's intervention.

The Government rejected IMA's claims and the Vigilance Department had been asked to take strong action, he said.

In reply to a question, he said the Government was not averse to holding discussions with IMA representatives provided they approached the Government.

"At this point of time, the Government would appeal to the IMA to withdraw its stir. But it would not hesitate to take strong action if the organisation went beyond its token stir," the Home Minister said.

He said the case related to a patient who was admitted to a Government hospital and the doctor had sought money to treat him. Mr. Balakrishnan said the Government would take action against Government doctors taking up consultancy and practice in private hospitals.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page