After a 12-day boycott of elective services at government hospitals connected to SMS Medical College, resident doctors in Jaipur intensified their protest by announcing an ongoing strike. The walkout, which is scheduled to start on Sunday morning, has drawn doctors from the medical college in Ajmer, adding to the intensity of the situation. This increase coincides with growing worries about patient treatment, particularly for people with dengue and other serious infections.
The doctors had previously informed the government of their unmet requests, which led to the decision to escalate the strike. The Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD) president, Dr. Manohar Siyol, stated that the government was given until 8 p.m. on Saturday to grant their requests. However, no satisfactory agreement was reached despite talks with senior authorities and health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar two days prior. When the 48-hour deadline passed and there was still no resolution, the resident physicians were forced to stop providing any medical care.
“We have come a long way in our fight for justice, but even after 12 days of protest, we are forced to shut down all services with a heavy heart due to the administration’s inaction,” Dr. Siyol said, expressing regret. This demonstrates how frustrated medical professionals are with their advocacy for improved working conditions and sufficient support.
Principal Dr. Deepak Maheshwari has asked the administration to create a 24/7 duty roster for top doctors in anticipation of the planned strike, as well as to assign tasks to all in-service physicians. The purpose of this action is to guarantee that patient care is provided without interruption, especially during the holiday season when healthcare needs may rise.
The resident physicians have made several demands: more security in medical colleges; prompt stipend increases; a modification of the bond policy; housing rent allowances for non-hostel resident physicians; and the start of special medical officer recruitment. The disparities in pay between senior residents who are academic and those who are not are another issue they aim to resolve.
Patients in need of care face numerous obstacles as the indefinite strike gets underway, especially because the area is already dealing with a dengue outbreak and other health issues. The protest by resident physicians highlights the urgent need for communication between the government and the medical community in order to address these urgent problems and guarantee the provision of high-quality healthcare.
SOURCE:
TIMES OF INDIA
