9600 Doctors resign from govt service, State Orders Arrest of Doctors not on duty

Jaipur (Rajasthan): All the practicing doctors in Rajasthan decided to go on a mass leave from November 6, in support of their pending demands before the state government. Almost 9600 doctors, who had already collected their mass resignations earlier this month, submitted the same to the government under the banner All India In-Service Doctors' Association, forcing the government to again invoke Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) to maintain healthcare services in the state.

The move came in response to the failed negotiations with the government with respect to the demands . It is reported that services doctors had submitted a set of 33 demands including formation of a separate cadre for in-service doctors, Rs 10,000 grade pay benefit to doctors, rectification in salary discrepancy, housing facility and safety for all doctors. However, despite almost 6 rounds of negotiations with the state government, no conclusion was reached

The mass resignation has followed the warning by the All India In-Service Doctors' Association (AIISDA) issued last month. The All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors' Association (ARISDA) has said if the state government takes an oppressive action against the doctors, a mass medical strike would be called.

The state health minister, Kalicharan Saraf, has said the fulfillment of the demands may take time.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that even last month the government doctors had announced a mass leave following the nonfulfillment of these very demands, however, the government had invoked Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) to prevent doctors from going on strike.Now in response, doctors have submitted their mass resignations.

Read also: 10,000 Doctors submit their mass resignations in Rajasthan

Government Ready with Arrest Warrants

Responding to the strike, The state government, once more invoked Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) today. Moreover, the Health department also announced that strict action will be taken against the doctor who will not reach the hospital.State Health Minister Kelicharan Sarraf said that the arrest of the doctors who did not reach hospital after the RESMA was imposed has also been started from late nights. Efforts are also being made to arrest the leaders of the doctors association.