The State Government on Wednesday sent a loud and clear message to the agitating Burla-based Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) doctors that it would not bow down to their diktats and take action against the doctors who fail to join their new places of posting.
Health Department Additional Secretary Surjit Das said to the media that as the State is facing an acute shortage of doctors, it is difficult to cancel the transfer orders as demanded by some political parties.
“The doctors have been transferred on the basis of promotion. Hence they are sent to new medical colleges like Baripada in Mayurbhanj district and Koraput where the sessions will commence from the coming academic session,” Das said.
“We will take stringent action against the medicos who fail to join their respective new postings,” said the Additional Secretary. The official claimed that the health services would not be disrupted despite the ongoing strike by the VIMSAR doctors.
Two days back after the Government notified about the transfer orders, the BJP workers staged a protest demanding the withdrawal of mass transfer of doctors and warned that the protests will be intensified if the transfer order is not withdrawn. On Sunday, the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), House Surgeons, PG Doctors and UG medical students of VIMSAR carried out a protest against the transfer order of 14 doctors of the medical college hospital.