Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051224650400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Junior doctors call off strike following talks

Staff Reporter

Minister R. Ashok, officials intervene to settle issue

TROUBLESHOOTING: Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok speaking to junior doctors at Victoria Hospital in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: The junior doctors of Bangalore Medical College (BMC), who had struck work following the reported manhandling of a post-graduate medical student at the Victoria Hospital by the husband of a patient, called off their strike here on Thursday.

The strike was called off following talks with Health and Family Welfare Minister R. Ashok, officials from the Department of Medical Education and the Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital.

Work hit

Work in all the BMC affiliated hospitals came to a standstill on Wednesday after the junior doctors decided to strike work when the husband of a patient, who had come to the out-patient department, reportedly slapped a junior doctor, following his wife's complaint that the doctor had "sexually harassed her".

"We had a five-hour meeting with the students and asked them to call off the strike. In the interest of the patients and to avoid inconvenience to the public we have agreed to the demands of the junior doctors. I have asked the Principal Secretary (Medical Education) to refer the matter to the Finance Department for approval and a Cabinet meeting will be held to discuss the issue," Mr. Ashok told The Hindu.

Mr. Ashok said he would seek the Cabinet's approval to raise the stipend from Rs. 3,900 to Rs. 6,000 for house surgeons and to fix it at Rs. 11,000 for post-graduate medical students.

A proposal to decrease the fees for post-graduate medical courses from Rs. 64,000 to Rs. 34,000 would also be placed before the Cabinet, he said.

However, the Government had decided to bring down hostel fees for the students. The fees would now be Rs. 500 per annum.

"This would come into effect in a week," Mr. Ashok said.

Mr. Dinesh Kumar, vice-president of the Junior Doctors Association, said the Director of Medical Education had promised that he would agree to their demands. It was also agreed to reduce the fees to Rs. 20,000 for post-graduate clinical, Rs. 10,000 for pre-clinical and Rs. 5,000 for para-clinical courses, he added.

Besides, he said the Minister had promised to provide additional security for the doctors, which was one of the important demands of the junior doctors.