House surgeons join docs’ strike, Stalin wants govt to begin talks
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:29.10.2019
The fourth day of strike by the Federation of Government Doctors Association – a group of five service doctors’ outfits – saw some tense moments on Monday. Police entered the Madras Medical College campus when the association erected a tent minutes before it began to rain.
Just as police landed, house surgeons from the hospital joined the strike to extend their support. Some minor, nonemergency surgeries were cancelled and many patients were asked to either wait or return after a few days. The crowd at the outpatient ward swelled as work in several inpatient wards was delayed; emergency wards, labour wards, ICUs and cathlabs were functional. Directors of medical education, medical services and public health have been gathering information about doctors who did not sign the attendance for the last four days. “Their absence will be considered as unauthorised. It will be considered break in service,” said director of medical education Dr A Narayanababu. Director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy also said absence will create a hindrance for doctors planning to apply for PG courses.
However, DMK president M K Stalin who met the striking doctors, assured them of his support. “Since October 25, more than 18,000 government doctors are protesting as the government has not honoured even its written assurance to them. Of the four demands, one relates to the doctors’ salary and others too are beneficial to patients. It is painful that instead of calling them for talks, the government is maintaining silence,” he said. Stalin urged the striking doctors to fight for their rights, but desist from endangering their own lives by going on fast. For more than a decade, doctors have been asking the government to implement the prospective clause of government order 354, which promises time-bound promotion in five, nine, 11 and 12 years of service. “We also want the government to appoint more doctors as per MCI norms, give us 50% service quota in medical education and conduct proper counselling before transfer of service postgraduates,” said Dr A Ramalingam of the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association. TNDGA president Dr K Senthil said the Centre follows a dynamic assured career progression pattern where doctors are promoted in the 4th, 9th and 13th years. “We get their fourth-year salary in our 15th year and their 13th year salary in our 20th year. We work hard to keep Tamil Nadu’s health indices high, but we don’t reap benefits. Doctor are paid 200 as teaching allowance in medical colleges,” he said.
One of the doctors on indefinite fast had to be admitted, as her blood pressure dropped. On Saturday, Dr Suresh Gopal was admitted for high fever and on Monday, Dr Rama was taken for treatment. Dr Perumapillai, Dr Balamanikandan and Dr Mir Mohib continued their fast.
Police deployed on the fourth day of the doctors’ strike at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:29.10.2019
The fourth day of strike by the Federation of Government Doctors Association – a group of five service doctors’ outfits – saw some tense moments on Monday. Police entered the Madras Medical College campus when the association erected a tent minutes before it began to rain.
Just as police landed, house surgeons from the hospital joined the strike to extend their support. Some minor, nonemergency surgeries were cancelled and many patients were asked to either wait or return after a few days. The crowd at the outpatient ward swelled as work in several inpatient wards was delayed; emergency wards, labour wards, ICUs and cathlabs were functional. Directors of medical education, medical services and public health have been gathering information about doctors who did not sign the attendance for the last four days. “Their absence will be considered as unauthorised. It will be considered break in service,” said director of medical education Dr A Narayanababu. Director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy also said absence will create a hindrance for doctors planning to apply for PG courses.
However, DMK president M K Stalin who met the striking doctors, assured them of his support. “Since October 25, more than 18,000 government doctors are protesting as the government has not honoured even its written assurance to them. Of the four demands, one relates to the doctors’ salary and others too are beneficial to patients. It is painful that instead of calling them for talks, the government is maintaining silence,” he said. Stalin urged the striking doctors to fight for their rights, but desist from endangering their own lives by going on fast. For more than a decade, doctors have been asking the government to implement the prospective clause of government order 354, which promises time-bound promotion in five, nine, 11 and 12 years of service. “We also want the government to appoint more doctors as per MCI norms, give us 50% service quota in medical education and conduct proper counselling before transfer of service postgraduates,” said Dr A Ramalingam of the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association. TNDGA president Dr K Senthil said the Centre follows a dynamic assured career progression pattern where doctors are promoted in the 4th, 9th and 13th years. “We get their fourth-year salary in our 15th year and their 13th year salary in our 20th year. We work hard to keep Tamil Nadu’s health indices high, but we don’t reap benefits. Doctor are paid 200 as teaching allowance in medical colleges,” he said.
One of the doctors on indefinite fast had to be admitted, as her blood pressure dropped. On Saturday, Dr Suresh Gopal was admitted for high fever and on Monday, Dr Rama was taken for treatment. Dr Perumapillai, Dr Balamanikandan and Dr Mir Mohib continued their fast.
Police deployed on the fourth day of the doctors’ strike at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital
