Around 1,200 resident doctors of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Gujarat went on an indefinite strike from Monday demanding a hike in their stipend, causing severe problems in the treatment of patients.
According to the news agency, despite officials making alternative arrangements to deal with the strike, health services were affected, with patients and relatives complaining of long waits for treatment at the facility in Aswara, which is attached to the BJ Medical College, one of the largest hospitals in the state.
According to the resident doctors, they will abstain from all work, including care, emergency and OPD services at the trauma centre, as part of the strike, until a solution is found.
Dr Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association, said, “The state health department had agreed to increase the stipend by 40 per cent every three years and the hike was to come into effect from April 1. However, it was not implemented till July after which we met state health minister Rushikesh Patel. We postponed our agitation after getting assurances in this regard.”
Government is going back on its promise: Junior Doctors Association
Gameti said, “We are now forced to go on an indefinite strike as we have come to know that the state government has only given a 20 per cent hike, which is half of what was promised. Moreover, the state government has now said that the stipend will be revised every time and this will happen in five years instead of three years. This is not acceptable as the government has gone back on its promise.”
People are facing problems due to the strike, a man said that he had brought his relative from Rajkot for treatment of jaundice but was told about the unavailability of doctors. The family said, “After waiting in the corridor for several hours, we will have to come the next day.”
Leave of all medical staff cancelled
Speaking about the situation, Rajneesh Patel, Additional Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, said, ‘The leaves of all medical and non-medical staff have been cancelled. We have adjusted the duty time and called doctors from other district hospitals to take care of the patients. Currently 130 doctors are on duty.’
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)