The Hindu : Front Page : YSR gets tough with junior doctors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

YSR gets tough with junior doctors

Special Correspondent

Threatens to invoke ESMA against them if they don’t re-join duty

-Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

In deep thought: Members of the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association in a reflective mood at the meeting held at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad on Tuesday, after the Government toughened its stand on the strike by junior doctors.

HYDERABAD: Getting tough with the striking junior doctors, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy issued an ultimatum asking them to re-join duty by Wednesday morning to avoid facing disciplinary action.

He also said the Government would not hesitate to invoke provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the junior doctors if they continued to abstain from work. They would be treated as house-surgeons and not as government servants since the ordinance approved by the Cabinet on Monday to provide them protection had not yet been promulgated.

Regulator soon

The continuing agitation by the junior doctors figured high on the Chief Minister’s agenda on Tuesday.

He held lengthy discussions with senior officials of the Medical & Health Department before issuing the ultimatum to the striking junior doctors.

Dr. Reddy later said that the Government had conceded the junior doctors’ demand by proposing the ordinance besides taking every other step to satisfy them. But, unfortunately, they continued to be adamant. Under the ordinance, a regulator would be appointed and corrective mechanism established to rectify the doctors found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty. Referring to reports of sick patients waiting for treatment in Government hospitals, Dr Reddy said the house-surgeons should not ignore their responsibilities while pressing for their rights. He said the Government had taken action without any delay after the “unfortunate” incidents in Niloufer and Puranapul hospitals. It had arrested an MLA after the Niloufer incident though he was released on bail. As another MLA was not found to be involved in the Puranapul incident, a case was booked against others.

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

Front Page