The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Medical bandh called off in Andhra Pradesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Medical bandh called off in Andhra Pradesh

Special Correspondent

Junior doctors, AP Government Doctors Association to continue stir

HYDERABAD: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the A.P. Nursing Homes Association (APNA) have called off their State-wide shutdown of hospitals on Monday after the Government agreed to bring private hospitals and nursing homes along with Government hospitals under the purview of an ordinance that will make assault on health staff a cognisable and non-bailable offence.

Though the announcement of IMA and APNA came as a big relief to the Government, the junior doctors and the A.P. Government Doctors Association have decided to continue with their stir until they receive a copy of the draft ordinance which will be placed before the Cabinet for approval on December 17.

YSR convenes meet

With the medical services thrown out of gear across the State, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday convened a meeting with IMA and APNA representatives in view of the medical bandh call. The meeting was attended by Medical Education Minister Galla Aruna, Chief Secretary J. Harinarayan, DGP S.S.P. Yadav and Health Department officials where the issue of promulgating an ordinance on Monday was taken up.

The IMA and APNA representatives said they were satisfied with the proposed ordinance and assured the Chief Minister that they would call off the strike.

The ordinance makes an assault on a doctor, nursing staff or any paramedic a cognisable and non-bailable offence.

Speaking to reporters later, Ms. Aruna said the ordinance would be sent to the Governor for his approval on Monday itself and appealed to all doctors to call off their strike and resume duties. Already, the Government had decided to post Special Protection Force personnel at all the Government teaching hospitals. Welcoming the Government’s decision, IMA National Coordinator Appa Rao and State president E. Ravindra Reddy said this was the first time that any Government had decided to bring such an enactment to provide protection to the medical fraternity. APNA State president Ravinder Rao said till this day private practitioners were working with a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over their heads. To a question, IMA representatives said they would try to convince junior doctors to rejoin duties as two major demands had been conceded.

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