The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR issues ultimatum to junior doctors

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Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR issues ultimatum to junior doctors

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Getting tough with the striking junior doctors, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy issued an ultimatum asking them to rejoin duty by Wednesday morning to avoid facing disciplinary action.

He also said the Government would not hesitate to invoke provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act against the junior doctors if they continued to abstain from work. They would be treated as house-surgeons and not as government servants since the ordinance approved by the Cabinet on Monday to provide them protection had not yet been promulgated.

The continuing agitation by the junior doctors figured high on the Chief Minister’s agenda on Tuesday. He held lengthy discussions with senior officials of the Medical & Health Department before issuing the ultimatum.

Dr. Reddy later said that the Government had conceded the junior doctors’ demand by proposing the ordinance besides taking every other step to satisfy them. But, unfortunately, they continued to be adamant. Under the ordinance, a regulator would be appointed and corrective mechanism established to rectify the doctors found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty.

Referring to reports of sick patients waiting for treatment in Government hospitals, Dr Reddy said the house-surgeons should not ignore their responsibilities while pressing for their rights.

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