Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Junior doctors continue strike

Thiruvananthapuram: House surgeons and postgraduate junior doctors at Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) continued their strike for the third day on Friday, despite assurances by Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy that all their concerns would be addressed immediately.

Following late night discussions with Ms. Sreemathy on Thursday, the junior doctors were expected to call off their strike on Friday morning. But with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) declaring an hour-long strike at the MCH and observance of ‘protest day’ on Saturday, the junior doctors decided to continue their strike for another day, much to the chagrin of senior doctors.

“All the demands of the junior doctors, including severe restriction on visitors, stronger police security at casualty and restricted area for treating accident victims, were accepted by Ms. Sreemathy. The Minister also said that she would pursue with the Home Minister the doctors’ demand that assault on doctors and hospitals be made a non-bailable offence. In all fairness, the students should have withdrawn their strike today morning,” a senior MCH functionary told The Hindu.

Though the IMA declared that all doctors in government and private hospitals, medical college teachers and students would take part in the strike, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) has chosen to dissociate itself from Saturday’s strike.

“KGMCTA members will not take part in the strike declared by the IMA as we are convinced about the assurances given by the government,” KGMCTA secretary Sarat Kumar said.

A senior doctor at the MCH said the junior doctors were being made a pawn in the political games being played by various organisations and medical college teachers were not interested in prolonging the strike.

“The Health Minister said openly that she had no difference of opinion that assault against doctors should be dealt with firmly. She said that she was in agreement about formulating the Andhra Pradesh-model special ordinance, making assault on doctors and hospitals a non-bailable offence with imprisonment, but that it would require more discussions,” he said.

The junior doctors have been on strike since Wednesday morning, demanding better protection and safer work environment, after a doctor was assaulted by a group of miscreants while on duty at the casualty wing.

On Thursday too, only emergency services went uninterrupted at the MCH.

Doctors managed to conduct several elective surgeries and senior doctors attended to out-patient clinics, which continued till evening as the junior doctors stayed away.

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