Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Doctors firm on strike plan

Thiruvananthapuram: The government might be trying to act tough with the doctors on strike, but a sense of panic has gripped senior health officials as things have been going from bad to worse in the public health sector as far as the clinical side and field-level activities are concerned.

Already, reports of chikungunya have been trickling in from Kasaragod and Kozhikode.

The indefinite strike call given by the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association could sound the death knell for the public health system which has been bearing the brunt of the government doctors’ strike.

In preparation for their strike, slated to begin on May 22, the doctors have now begun to discharge or refer patients to medical college hospitals. None of the doctors who were issued transfer orders and were asked to join their new place of posting on Monday have come forward to even receive the orders.

The government might be able to mobilise some more contract doctors under National Rural Health Mission but there is no way it can deal with a situation in which 2,000-odd doctors stay away from work. Health care in the rural areas are going to be badly hit, it is pointed out.

Field-level work such as routine immunisation and disease surveillance will also be affected.The government’s threats to use Essential Services Maintenance Act or to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court or the Medical Council have not made any dent on the doctors’ resolve to stay away from work.

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