Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said 1,550 doctors out the 4,683 doctors, who were on indefinite strike, have reported for duty till Thursday noon. The government has issued transfer orders to 50 doctors and is taking steps to make new appointments for the posts.
As the indefinite strike by doctors affiliated to the Federation of Government Doctors Association entered the seventh day on Thursday, he said that 3,127 doctors are participating in the strike as per the 12 noon-status. He refuted that 15,000 to 17,000 doctors were taking part in the strike.
“In fact, there is no strike in more than 15 districts such as Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Pudukottai and Madurai. Majority of those who had protested yesterday such as in Villupuram and Tiruppur districts are not protesting today,” he told reporters on Thursday.
A total of 4,683 doctors were participating in the strike till yesterday, he said, adding, “Of them, 1,550 doctors have returned to duty after the government issued a detailed statement on Tuesday, and requested them to return to work yesterday.”
Noting that the Chief Minister has urged the striking doctors to return to work, he said the doctors can take a few more hours and return to duty today. “If not, we will declare the posts as vacant today, and begin the process for selecting new doctors through the Medical Services Recruitment Board notification this evening,” he said.
He said the government was very clear that medical services for the poor should not be affected. “We are considering their demands. We have assured the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association to consider the demand for pay band-4,” he stated.
