2k interns at govt hospitals go on token strike

CARE AVAILABILITY

2k interns at govt hospitals go on token strike

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  15.12.2020

Over 2,000 intern doctors at the 14 governmentrun hospitals in Gujarat on Monday observed a token oneday strike as a sign of protest over pending demands.

The groups said that the protest would continue even as the government officials on Monday warned them against applying ‘pressure tactics.’ “We demand that the stipend should be increased from Rs 12,800 to Rs 20,000 per month considering our duty in Covid wards. The bond period should be considered in accordance with our Covid duty. We should be paid the remuneration at the rate of Rs 1,000 per day if we are on Covid duty, and the remuneration be at least on par with our counterparts in AMC hospitals,” said a doctor on protest.

Nitin Patel, deputy chief minister and state health minister, on Monday assured the doctors of decision on their demands at ‘appropriate time.’ “Instead of thinking about patients in these difficult times, interns must not apply pressure tactics to press for their demand,” said Patel, adding that the strike was “uncalled-for” in the present scenario.

Officials also warned the students that they would be marked absent if they refrained from duty and it could hamper their admission to PG courses. The doctors, however, said that they were adamant on their demands.

Intern doctors protest demanding an increase in their stipend, outside GMERS Sola Medical College in Ahmedabad on Monday