Patients’ patience put to test as docs go on strike

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23

Patient care services in all government hospitals and dispensaries in the state were affected as doctors went on a day-long strike on Monday. Only casualty services and emergency surgeries were working.

Following the Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association (HMOA) call for an agitation over its demands, including safety of doctors and pay parity, resident doctors and medical officers stayed away from work.

Medical officers in zonal, regional and civil hospitals led by the HPMOA, resident doctors at the IGMC,

Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda town in Kangra district and the Dental Doctors Association proceeded on mass casual leave. Patients had to go through a harrowing time.

Doctors on emergency duty attended to the patients at the IGMC. Most OPDs wore a deserted look. “The strike did not affect the emergency services,” said Dr Ramesh Chand, Senior Medical Superintendent, IGMC.

The association said its protest would continue until the government accepted all demands. “The government must bring in a Bill as per which attack on doctors on duty will be non-bailable on the lines of Punjab and Haryana. “There are other 15 demands which the government has not accepted,” members said. They said they would wear black badges from tomorrow.