Date:08/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/08/stories/2007040805660500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Junior doctors boycott duties

Staff Reporter

Protest against lack of infrastructure required for MCI recognition

Regular doctors too express solidarity with junior doctors

Without MCI nod, fate of over 150 doctors hangs in balance

FOR A CAUSE: Junior doctors staging a protest after boycotting outpatient duties at the general hospital in Anantapur on Saturday.

ANANTAPUR: Junior doctors of the Government Medical College and its attached general hospital boycotted outpatient duties for an hour here on Saturday.

The boycott was part of their agitation launched on April 4 seeking provision of infrastructure, teaching faculty and non-teaching staff required for Medical Council of India recognition.

Under the aegis of Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association, they also undertook a mass relay fast.

Regular doctors of the hospital under the aegis of Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors Association also expressed solidarity with the junior doctors by boycotting outpatient duties.

Raise slogans

Junior doctors lead by APJUDA district president Harikrishna Reddy and general secretary Nagaraju gathered in front of the outpatient and emergency blocks, displayed placards and raised slogans against the Government seeking immediate steps to fulfil all requirements for getting Medical Council of India recognition.

The fate of three batches numbering 150 junior doctors that had passed out of the college was hanging in balance due to lack of Medical Council of India recognition to their degrees, they said.

They wanted the Government to fill the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts and provide infrastructure required for Medical Council of India recognition immediately.