Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Government calls striking doctors for discussions today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.09.2018

The health department has called representatives of striking government doctors for talks on Tuesday at the secretariat, three days ahead of their proposed boycott of all patient services barring emergencies, demanding higher pay.

On Monday, the joint action committee of Government Doctors Association chairman Dr K Senthil told the media that nearly 20,000 government doctors working in three wings will boycott work on Friday in government and private hospitals demanding pay parity with their counterparts at the Centre. “We will not sign attendance, see patients in OP wards or do elective surgeries,” he said. However, the committee has formed teams that will attend emergencies, he said.

Minutes after the announcement officials at the health department said they will be holding talks with the doctors. “We are trying to settle the issue amicably. We want to ensure that people don’t suffer,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.

Meanwhile, the directorate of medical education has sought permission from the government to initiate disciplinary action against government doctors who did not appear before then two-member MCI team at the two medical colleges.

“We have been asking for a pay hike for 10 years now. This time we gave the strike notice also ahead of time. If the talks fail, we are left with no option but to go on strike,” said Dr A Ramalingam. “Still if nothing happens, we will increase the strike period,” he said.

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