The Hindu : Front Page : Doctors’ strike continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Doctors’ strike continues

Staff Reporter

4 children die soon after getting admitted in Niloufer

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Tough stand: Health Minister Galla Aruna and Backward Classes Welfare Minister M. Mukesh Goud pleading with the squatting junior doctors to call off their strike in Hyderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD: The manhandling of junior doctors at Niloufer hospital by an MIM legislator has snowballed into a major issue with A.P. Junior Doctors Associaton (APJDA) announcing an indefinite strike in all teaching hospitals, even as their seniors expressed solidarity with their cause.

The A.P. Government Doctors’ Association (APGDA) has said that it would meet on Tuesday afternoon to decide the future course of action if the Government did not concede to the demands. The demands include registration of an attempt-to-murder case against Afsar Khan, MLA from Karwan constituency and his associates; round-the-clock security at hospitals and strict punishments for attacks on doctors.

There was high drama in the State capital on Monday, with the Government deputing two Ministers, Galla Aruna and M. Mukesh Goud, to hold talks with the agitating doctors, who squatted on the road since Sunday night.

The on-the-road negotiations did not fructify, even as the busy thoroughfare witnessed a major traffic jam.

The deadlock continued till Monday evening as the junior doctors remained adamant and the Government soft-pedalled the issue and the police moved in to arrest 87 doctors. They were released on bail later.

The strike by junior doctors had a telling effect on the health care in Niloufer hospital where four children died within a few hours of their admission. Though the senior doctors were attending to the patients, the absence of junior doctors hit the service. The APJDA had also threatened to boycott emergency services, if their demands were not met. Medical services at Osmania and Gandhi hospitals too were partially affected with doctors extending support to their colleagues.

In the morning, the agitators attempted to take out a protest rally to the State Assembly, but were prevented by the police. This led to the on-the-road squatting throwing the traffic movement haywire.

The Government’s offer to transfer the investigation to the CID and suspend a police sub-inspector did not cut ice with the angry junior doctors.

Punishment

The Ministers also said that the Government was willing to enact a law providing stringent punishment in such cases and also that it would provide round-the-clock security at hospitals.

However, the junior doctors were insisting on registration of an attempt-to-murder case against the MLA.

“We will continue the agitation till an attempt-to-murder case is booked against Afsar Khan. How can an SI be suspended for no fault on his part? It’s the legislator and his henchmen who abused and assaulted us, but no action was initiated. Is it correct?” they asked the Ministers.

APJDA State president G. Raju said the MLA’s inhuman behaviour was nothing short of an attack on medical profession. “We don’t know why the Government is hesitating to take action against him,” he remarked.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section