The junior doctors of Dr BR Ambedkar Hospital will remain on symbolic strike on October 7-8 in support of their demands including hike in the stipend in the city.
The junior doctors will provide services only in Emergency wards, said Secretary of Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) Dr Deepak Jain. The junior doctors threatened to intensify the protest with support of paramedical staff and technicians if the government fails to consider their demands.
Dr Jain said that that the junior doctors of other states are getting much higher stipend and their stipend should also be brought at par with them. They said that their stipend is between Rs 30000-35000 per month and this should be increased to Rs 50000 and above with an annual increment at the rate of 10%.
Apart from their stipend, the junior doctors also demanded for an air conditioned Trauma Centre with adequate number of ward boys and other staff. A separate hostel for women doctors and improvement in duty rooms of doctors with availability of cold water. They also demanded for security personnel at Trauma Centre and wards to limit the number of attendants and to make arrangement for food at subsidized rate for attendants near the hospital.
They said that they had given a number of representations to the Director, Medical Education and Superintendent of the hospital but no action has been taken. We have no option left except strike to pressurize the government, said junior doctors.