The government has appealed to the junior doctors not to link the compulsory government service with guidelines issued by the Medical Council of India as both are different issues.
K. Ratna Kishore, Principal Secretary, Health, Medical and Family Welfare, said here on Tuesday that the compulsory government service for one year to all the non-service candidates after completion of PG course was part of the State government policy to improve medical care in community health centres, area hospitals, district hospitals besides teaching and super-speciality hospitals.
Mr. Ratna Kishore, who resumed talks with A. P. Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) on Tuesday, said that the government was prepared to address all their concerns related to compulsory government service in rural areas. Be it security, amenities and accommodation facilities and monetary issues within a month.
The strike impacted even emergency services in all teaching hospitals as junior doctors stopped attending to duty from Monday. The Principal Secretary urged them to call off the strike keeping in view suffering of patients.
Additional seats
The government was also taking several measures to improve standards, faculty and emergency equipment in all teaching hospitals as per MCI guidelines as it would give additional post-graduate seats to the State next year. It will also file its counter in the High Court about the compulsory government service for which GO 40 was issued in 2010 and accordingly, 343 PG doctors who gave bond undertaking would have to serve in public sector hospitals in semi-urban and urban areas. “We will also list out measures being taken to improve facilities in all teaching hospitals in the State as per MCI norms,” Mr. Ratna Kishore said.
