Doctors begin strike, but patient care not affected
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:26.10.2019
Government doctors in the city and the rest of Tamil Nadu began an indefinite strike on Friday demanding an increase in salary. While there were long queues in outpatient sections in many government medical college hospitals in the morning, the situation was near normal by noon. Emergency departments, ICUs and fever wards were fully functional.
While most doctors found new ways to participate in the strike by signing attendance forms and taking turns to stand with the protesting doctors’ group, a five-member group went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the chief minister meet them and hear their demands.
In Chennai, more than 300 doctors from different hospitals raised slogans outside the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Most doctors said they did not want patients to suffer. “Most departments had professors and post-graduates on the floor throughout the day. Assistant professors took breaks to join the strike,” said an assistant professor in Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.
The highest absence in Chennai was recorded at Stanley Medical College Hospital, where 95 doctors, including three senior doctors, of the total 508 did not sign the attendance register. In Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, barring 65 of the 135 assistant professors, most doctors signed the register and attended duty. At the GH, doctors were on leave without permission. “None of the scheduled surgeries were cancelled in our hospital. There was a delay in waiting period but our OP strength was normal,” said Stanley Medical College dean Dr R Shanthimalar.
Health secretary Beela Rajesh held talks with the striking doctors, but to no avail. “She asked us to return to work as it is the festival season and there were many fever cases. There was no favourable response to our demand,” said a protesting doctor. The strike had no effect on patient care in government hospitals and primary heath care centres in Madurai and the southern districts. Protesting doctors in Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai and Coimbatore Medical College Hospital have been boycotting classes for medical students since Thursday. However, all other patient facilities will be fully operational till October 29. “We have planned for a full 48-hour strike on October
30. Even on that day, we will have teams to respond to emergencies. It is just that one doctor will have to deal with the work load of 10 on those two days,” said Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association president Dr K Senthil. While Tuticorin Medical College Hospital recorded 100% attendance, according to resident medical officer Dr Silas Jeyamani, 550 PG doctors in Trichy participated in the strike, said Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association (SDPGA) treasurer Dr T Aruleeswaran.
The salary for doctors in state and central services is the same when they join duty, but doctors in central government service receive promotions in four, nine, 13 and 20 years, compared to eight, 15, 17 and 20 years in the state government.
SALARY MATTERS: Doctors hold a protest at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Friday
EPS should hold talks, says Stalin
Chennai:
Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should immediately hold talks with the striking government hospital doctors, said DMK president M K Stalin in a statement on Friday. So far, the CM has not called the doctors and the government is not worried about people, he said.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:26.10.2019
Government doctors in the city and the rest of Tamil Nadu began an indefinite strike on Friday demanding an increase in salary. While there were long queues in outpatient sections in many government medical college hospitals in the morning, the situation was near normal by noon. Emergency departments, ICUs and fever wards were fully functional.
While most doctors found new ways to participate in the strike by signing attendance forms and taking turns to stand with the protesting doctors’ group, a five-member group went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the chief minister meet them and hear their demands.
In Chennai, more than 300 doctors from different hospitals raised slogans outside the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Most doctors said they did not want patients to suffer. “Most departments had professors and post-graduates on the floor throughout the day. Assistant professors took breaks to join the strike,” said an assistant professor in Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.
The highest absence in Chennai was recorded at Stanley Medical College Hospital, where 95 doctors, including three senior doctors, of the total 508 did not sign the attendance register. In Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, barring 65 of the 135 assistant professors, most doctors signed the register and attended duty. At the GH, doctors were on leave without permission. “None of the scheduled surgeries were cancelled in our hospital. There was a delay in waiting period but our OP strength was normal,” said Stanley Medical College dean Dr R Shanthimalar.
Health secretary Beela Rajesh held talks with the striking doctors, but to no avail. “She asked us to return to work as it is the festival season and there were many fever cases. There was no favourable response to our demand,” said a protesting doctor. The strike had no effect on patient care in government hospitals and primary heath care centres in Madurai and the southern districts. Protesting doctors in Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai and Coimbatore Medical College Hospital have been boycotting classes for medical students since Thursday. However, all other patient facilities will be fully operational till October 29. “We have planned for a full 48-hour strike on October
30. Even on that day, we will have teams to respond to emergencies. It is just that one doctor will have to deal with the work load of 10 on those two days,” said Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association president Dr K Senthil. While Tuticorin Medical College Hospital recorded 100% attendance, according to resident medical officer Dr Silas Jeyamani, 550 PG doctors in Trichy participated in the strike, said Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association (SDPGA) treasurer Dr T Aruleeswaran.
The salary for doctors in state and central services is the same when they join duty, but doctors in central government service receive promotions in four, nine, 13 and 20 years, compared to eight, 15, 17 and 20 years in the state government.
SALARY MATTERS: Doctors hold a protest at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Friday
EPS should hold talks, says Stalin
Chennai:
Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should immediately hold talks with the striking government hospital doctors, said DMK president M K Stalin in a statement on Friday. So far, the CM has not called the doctors and the government is not worried about people, he said.
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