Sunday, August 4, 2019

Doctors told to return to work or face action

IMA to meet today to decide on the next course of action

04/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,NEW DELHI


On protest: AIIMS doctors rallying against the NMC Bill. Sandeep SaxenaSandeep Saxena

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital and others on Saturday directed their doctors on strike to resume work immediately or face disciplinary action.

Doctors from several hospitals across the capital and various parts of the country have been on strike, including emergency services in some hospitals, for the past three days now protesting against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019.

On Friday evening, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan met the doctors and asked them to end the strike in the interest of patients. He maintained that the legislation was in the interest of doctors, patients, medical students and society and added that the Bill was one of the biggest reforms in medical education in India.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on Thursday.

In a statement, the Indian Medical Association, which is now scheduled to meet on Sunday to decide on the next course of action, said: “The Bill is 'anti-poor', 'anti-student' and 'undemocratic' and promotes quackery. Section 32 of the NMC Bill provides for licensing of 3.5 lakh non-medical persons or Community Health Providers to practise modern medicine. This is unacceptable.”

Speaking about the provision, the Minister noted: “There is no question of quackery. The Commission may grant limited license to practice medicine for Community Health Providers (CHP). This concept is recognized worldwide and this concept has also been highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Lancet Journal. Many countries follow a similar arrangement.”

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