Medical and health services in the government hospitals of Rajasthan remained affected on Wednesday with in-service doctors going on mass leave as part of second phase of their agitation on a 33-point charter of demands.
Despite the Rajasthan High Court's order and the state government’s ultimatum after the Essential Services Maintenance Act was invoked, the doctors did not join the duty. According to the Medical and Health Department, about 5,500 doctors across the State abstained from work.
However, the department accepted one of the major demands of doctors for removal of an administrative officer posted as the Additional Director late on Wednesday evening.
Surgeries postponed
Medical services in over 2,500 government healthcare institutions across the state were hit hard for the fifth successive day. Surgeries and urgent treatments in the district hospitals and medical colleges were postponed.
Doctors and nursing staff, accompanied by three ambulances, from the Military Hospital in Alwar were sent to the Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in the town to attend to the patients.
All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors’ Association’s lawyer Mahesh Sharma said:“Despite the deadlock, the State government has not invited the Association for talks.”
Medical and Health Minister Kali Charan Saraf has maintained that the State government has fulfilled most of the demands as per an agreement signed on November 12.
