The meeting between junior doctors and Director Medical Education (DME) have failed resulting in the former proceeding on indefinite strike at Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in support of their demands here on Wednesday.
The Government on the other hand has threatened to cancel the PG registration and get the hostels vacated if the junior doctors continue with the strike, sources said.
The junior doctors who were on a half-day strike since Tuesday and had earlier planned to go for an indefinite strike from Thursday refrained themselves from attending Emergency services which adversely affected work in the hospital.
The DME called their demand of hike in stipend to Rs50000 and above as irrational and offered a hike of Rs2500 during a meeting with junior doctors on Wednesday. This was rejected by the junior doctors who maintained that all of their demands including stipend, facilities for patients and their attendants, construction of hostels, security, canteen etc should be fulfilled.
The DME expressed displeasure over the attitude of JUDA and allegedly threatened to discontinue their PG and to vacate the hostels.
“We are protesting not just for stipend; our demands include facilities for patients and their attendants, hostels for female doctors, canteen for attendants and better working conditions. We have decided to remain on indefinite strike unless the government takes any decision regarding our all demands,” said President of Junior Doctors Association (JUDA), Dr Kunal Paul.
later, Principal Secretary, Health, Dr Alok Shukla held a meeting with the officers regarding the strike and demands of the junior doctors.He took stock of the alternate arrangements made by the hospital to deal with the strike.The Dr Ambedkar Hospital authorities informed that doctors from Raipur District Hospital and other health centers have been arranged and the strike will have no effect on the services.
Dr Shukla too rejected the demands of the junior doctors and hinted that the government will deal the doctors strictly, sources said.The services at Dr Ambedkar Hospital were affected with half day strike on Tuesday and the situation deteriorated with total boycott of duty by the junior doctors on Wednesday.