Non-payment of stipend: 500 medicos of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College boycott OPD, threaten suspension of emergency services

Jabalpur: Around 350 junior doctors and 150 interns of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh went on a strike on Tuesday demanding the payment of their long-overdue stipends for four months. 

Standing against the administrative authorities, the junior doctors commenced their strike in response to their mounting anger and frustration caused by the delayed stipends. They have been grappling with inconsistent stipend payments for the past year.

It has come to light that the junior doctors have not been paid regularly by the authorities since October of the previous year, despite their continuous efforts to provide services and facilities in the medical college.

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Following the strike, OPD services (Out-Patient Department) remained closed on Tuesday affecting patients who had visited the medical college for treatment. However, It will remain closed today as well.

Before moving forward with their strike, the junior doctors firmly warned the authorities on Sunday, setting a deadline for the receipt of their stipend within a week. They threatened to shut down the OPD on January 9 and January 10 if their demands were not met. Additionally, they stressed that the protest could intensify greatly after January 11.

Junior Doctor Association (JDA) President Chandrababu Rajak told FPJ, "At least 350 junior doctors and 150 interns have not received stipends since October. Many of them had to borrow money from friends or ask from parents. We are facing a financial problem. We have complained about the matter to our college dean several times, but no action has been taken."

In a letter addressing the Dean of the college on January 7, JDA informed that there has been no response from higher authorities regarding the prolonged issue of delayed stipend payments for postgraduates despite multiple requests.

"2nd and 3rd-year postgraduates have not received payment for 2 months, while 1st-year postgraduates remain unpaid from the time of commencement of their duties. In light of this, the JDA Jabalpur has decided to commence a strike 24 hours from this notice. Routine duties and OPD will be closed on the 9th and 10th of January. If no prompt action is taken, emergency services will also be suspended starting from the 11th of January," reads the letter.

Commenting on this matter, Rajak said "No notice is ever paid to our problems. We have to stage protests and take to streets to draw government's attention to their issues."

As of now, the medical college authorities have not provided any response, and the doctors have issued a warning to prolong their strike starting from 11 January unless their demands are attended to.

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