Doctors resume emergency duties, but continue protest

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 6

The protesting doctors of Kashmir’s six multidisciplinary critical care hospitals have resumed their emergency duties after the state government promised them that their demands would be addressed in a time-bound manner.

However, the doctors have decided to continue their protest and boycott the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) till the government fulfils the demand of a pay hike.

The state government had also reinstated the 36 doctors who were sacked for boycotting the emergency duties while demanding a pay hike.

“We have decided to resume the emergency duties but the boycott of OPDs will continue till all our demands are met,” Resident Doctors’ Association president Irfan Qayoom said.

Qayoom said the decision was taken in the interest of patient care and after assurances from the government that all their demands would be addressed in a time-bound manner.

Nearly 700 doctors of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, and its six associated hospitals are protesting and demanding monthly stipend and non-practicing allowance at par with their counterparts in the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.