Talks fail; junior doctors' strike intensifies

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 25. The junior doctors' strike intensified on Wednesday with under-graduate medical students also joining the stir.

The effect of the strike that entered the third day could be seen in all major Government hospitals in the City, which recorded a moderate decrease in the number of in-patients and out-patients.

Dr. Vijayakumar H.G., President of the Karnataka State Junior Doctors' Association, said the under-graduates were supporting the strike following a 15 per cent increase in medical and dental course fees.

Meanwhile, talks with the Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and other university representatives here on Wednesday failed as the striking doctors' demand to conduct examinations according to MCI regulations was turned down. The reason given was that they could not provide examiners for the purpose.

The doctors have decided to intensify the strike following this and the State Medical Education Department's inability to give a positive response to their demands.

The representatives of the association met officials from the Medical Education Department on Tuesday, but there had been no positive outcome. Regarding the decision of the State Government to give essentiality certificates to new medical colleges, the department officials said the Government gave permission to any college with a fund of Rs. 2 crores and five acres of land, and the Medical Council of India (MCI) was responsible for giving approval to these colleges, Dr. Vijayakumar said.

On the demand for introduction of residency scheme for postgraduate students, the junior doctors were told that they could be re-designated as residents, but the Government was not in a position to give them living quarters on the premises of hospitals.

Bowring Hospital received only around 800 outpatients on Wednesday compared to the usual inflow of over 1,000. Though there were long queues outside the OPDs, medical services were not severely affected.

Dr. L.Chandramma, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said that 25 medical officers had been sent from primary health centres to ease the workload. But some operations had to be rescheduled due to the strike, she added.

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Section  : Southern States
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