VIMSAR Junior Doctors continue strike over pending demands, medical services hit

Sambalpur: Responding to partial demands of the junior doctors at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) who launched their strike on Thursday, the authorities reshuffled some officials for alleged lapses in duty.

Recently, the director of VIMSAR issued an order which mentioned that Debarchan Pradhan, the establishment officer, has been assigned the role of PIO (dean's office) and librarian from now on. Likewise, Mamata Debi, the senior assistant, will take charge of the education section. In contrast, Romarani Das, the junior assistant, will serve as the in-charge steno to the dean and principal until any further instructions are given.

The strike on its second day on Friday, saw junior doctors, including members of the Junior Doctor’s Association (JDA) of VIMSAR, persisting in their protest against the college administration from 9 am to 5 pm ceasing hospital work. They made it clear that the protest would only be called off once their demands were met. 

Similarly, the agitating doctors have also threatened to stop emergency services if their demands are not fulfilled within the next 48 hours. Their key demands include non-payment of stipends and lack of facilities in the institute.

Yesterday, the junior doctors intensified their protest demanding the removal of the current dean and a complete overhaul of the administration which includes the replacement of the principal, accounts officer and head clerk of the education section as they claimed that they are engaging in corrupt practices and are inefficient. 

As a result, Health Secretary Shalini Pandit has urged for the transfer of VIMSAR's Accounts Officer, due to her failure to fulfil official responsibilities and lack of cooperation with institute authorities. He also alleged that this has resulted in delays in the disbursement of student stipends and regular staff salary payments. The request was made in a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary of Finance on March 15th as reported by TNIE. 

Also read- VIMSAR Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over Pending Stipend

Speaking to the daily, General Secretary of the House Surgeons’ Union Rohan Nayak said, “We are thankful to the government for acting on two of our major demands. But our agitation will continue until other demands are met. We have decided not to disrupt the emergency services.”

Amid their ongoing protest, the Odisha Medical Teachers' Association (OMTA) has extended its support to the junior doctors of VIMSAR today in a letter issued to the JDA. Feeling grateful, the UG students union of the institute in a post on X said, "Their co-operation will motivate us to continue fighting for the welfare and progress of VIMSAR, Burla."

Meanwhile, the protest has partially hit patient care and the hospitals's functionality as the agitating doctors ceased their work in the OPD, IPD and elective OT departments. As a result, the hospital is now facing delays and disruptions in essential medical services.

Additionally, all academic classes for UG and PG students have been suspended and the students refused to attend the internal examinations which are now been postponed. 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the Junior doctors at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) threatened to go on strike if their demands remained unfulfilled by March 13.

It was alleged by the resident doctors at the institute that there are large-scale irregularities in the institute that are causing the non-payment of the stipend. Raising their demands, the doctors allegedly met the Dean of the Institute Prof Jayashree Dora on March 7. Despite a long discussion, no solution emerged and therefore, their problems continue.

Earlier, the protesting doctors wore black badges on their hands as a symbol of protest and submitted a memorandum to the VIMSAR Director urging the Director of the Institute to take appropriate steps.

"On Wednesday, the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), Northern Range held a discussion with us and assured of taking necessary action. But in the absence of any visible action on our demands, we resorted to cease-work protest,” said the agitating doctors. 

Their 22-point demands include payment of monthly pending stipends, installation of WiFi services on the campus, MRI machines, improvement in emergency services including CT scan and X-ray machines, the establishment of new departments within the campus, educational facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, and many more.

Speaking to TNIE, General Secretary of JDA Jajati Keshari Panigrahi said, “The authorities have requested us to withdraw the protest by giving false assurance yet again. As the issues have not been addressed in the last so many days, we don’t trust their words anymore. We will call off our cease-work protest only after the demands are met."

“There are so many problems here in our college. Despite being the oldest college in Western Odisha, it is still lagging behind many others. There is no MRI scanner in hospital. The lone CT scanner breaks down regularly. The super speciality building, OT and ICU complex are yet to start despite their completion months back. It forces us to refer patients to other hospitals,” said a protesting doctor before initiating their strike. 

“Despite being a research institute, there are no facilities for medical research. The college is also not paying us monthly stipends on time. It either gets late or does not come at all. PG students have not received their stipend for the last six months. The authorities are not student-friendly at all. They are not at all listening to our demands. They do not listen to any matter related to scholarship or study loans of students,” another protesting student told OdishaTV. 

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