HEALTH

Parallel OPDs swell as docs continue stir
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23
Patient rush at parallel OPDs in PGIMER continued as the protest by striking medicos against reservation entered the ninth day here today. While resident doctors participated in a scooter rally to religious places, the relay fast, started by medicos at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, entered its second day.

Besides the OPDs, where senior residents had their hands full with patients, doctors held a special camp for patients of asthma, vascular surgery and rheumatology. The morning saw patients flock the OPDs where resident doctors examined them.

As many as 574 patients were examined today while the doctors decided to hold special camps in paediatrics, endocrinology and an adolescent clinic. The doctors will also hold camps in medicine (diabetic clinic) and surgery (breast diseases clinic).

In the afternoon, they started a scooter rally from the PGIMER. The medicos and students of Panjab University and Punjab Engineering College, carrying placards against reservation and seeking reservation on merit, visited the medicos of the GMCH-32 sitting on a relay fast to express solidarity with them.

Later, a delegation from the GMCH-32 accompanied the PGI doctors’ rally to Mansa Devi shrine and Nada Sahib. Meanwhile, the Government Medical College and Hospital Employees Union Chandigarh today criticised the Central Government’s proposal of OBC quota and the manhandling of doctors by the police in Mumbai and Delhi. It demanded that the Central Government should forthwith give up the quota move. This was stated in a press note issued by Mr Laxmi Kant Tewari, general secretary of the union.

Doctors from GMCH-32 and the PGI, continued with their public out reach programme and managed to get letters of support from various organisations. “We are getting in touch with various resident welfare associations and a number of bodies have already assured their support to us. The process is still on and we have targeted everybody from education institutions to IT professionals to industrial associations. We have letters from 20 such organisations and are reaching out to more such bodies,” said Dr Anand Vinekar, senior resident at the PGI.

Meanwhile, at GMCH-32, a fresh batch of protesters began the relay fast this evening. The protesting medicos were joined by the National Dental College, Zirakhpur. With OPD services suspended today, patients had a harrowing time running around looking for doctors.

The protesting doctors from the PGI also met Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who assured them of forwarding their memorandum to the Prime Minister. At the PGIMER, 530 patients were registered in the OPDs and were examined by faculty, sponsored candidates and pool officers.

The indoor services were managed by faculty, sponsored candidates and pool officers and so far 20 patients had been admitted. 

Docs unrelenting

Chandigarh, May 23
Dismissing the formula on reservation worked out by the Union Government, medicos of the PGIMER; the General Hospital, Sector 16; and the GMCH-32 tonight said their strike would continue till the demands of a complete rollback on reservation were met. The spokesperson for the Association of Resident Doctors, PGI, Dr A. Banerjee, said: “By announcing that reservation will be carried out from next year the government is only trying to buy time and has deferred the issue.”

He said a 10-member committee comprising members drawn from colleges and institutions of the region had been formed to pursue the anti-reservation campaign in Delhi. “By bringing a Bill on reservation in the monsoon session, the government has made it clear that reservation will not be withdrawn. Our fight is against reservation and has nothing to do with the interim arrangements made by the government. With this formula they are hoping we will get back to work. However, this will mean students next year will have to launch a fresh agitation,” Dr Kashmiri Lal of the GMCH-32 said. TNS

SPORTS

Netball players elated over game’s inclusion in C’wealth Games
G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23
The netball girl players, who have been toiling in the 20-day camp being held at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, here, are in high spirits. Since the game has been included in the Commonwealth Games and will be a part of its 2010 edition in Delhi, the players could get a chance of being recognised at the international level.

Expressing happiness over the development, Panchali Tatke, a former international netball player, said, “ The Netball Federation of India (NFI) is preparing a long term plan for the big event but at the moment we are concentrating on the forthcoming 5th Youth Asian Championship to be held in Bangalore from July 24 to 31. As many as eight to 10 teams from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Maldives, Pakistan, Japan, and China, besides host team India have confirmed their participation in it.”

Panchali, who has been imparting training to the 20 probables of the camp said, “This is the second camp for the preparation of the Youth Championship where girls from as far as Manipur, Assam, Orrisa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi are attending it. The first camp was held at Raipur in February from which these 20 players were selected. Now here, we are emphasising more on fitness, besides honing the skills of the players. From this camp 16 players will be selected for the final camp to be held in Bangalore where the players will undergo training from the Sri Lankan coach.”

Sounding confident, the former player, who had led the Indian team during the Indo-Pakistan tour last year, said, “We are looking forward for podium finish in the forthcoming championship. Till date we could manage fourth or fifth place only”.

ADMINISTRATION

Senior Standing Counsel
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23
The Chandigarh Administrator has appointed Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer Anupam Gupta Senior Standing Counsel.

Mr Gupta replaces Mr Rajiv Atma Ram, who had a five-year stint. The orders appointing Mr Gupta were issued by the UT Home Secretary today.

Mr Gupta would accept notices issued by the high court on behalf of the UT Administration or any public officers subordinate thereto.

He would have a two-year term and would appear for the UT Administration in all cases in the high court.

He would also have the duty to give legal opinion to the Administration on all matters referred to him.