Rajasthan: Healthcare services crippled as doctors strike enters day 4

“ We have to appear for our exams in the month of June itself but due to the work pressure and high patient loads, we are not even getting enough sleep, let alone time to prepare for our exams,” said Dr Mahender Singh,  RDA President Jhalawar Medical college.

According to many, the strike is not due to one reason, but culmination of the anger of overworked medical students in the state. Today was the fourth day of their strike.

The government, however, rather than listening to demands has been reported to resort to punitive action. On 1^st of June, Health minister Rajendra Rathore announced suspension of 583 striking doctors along with their suspension from the PG program.

Read Also: Rajasthan: Resident doctors go on strike, Health minister threatens consequences

The punitive actions went a bit too far, when yesterday all striking DM/MCh/MD.MD/Diploma doctors were told to vacate their hostels including women medicos. At many places, utilities such as electricity and water connections have been removed to drive the resident doctors out, a doctor told Medical Dialogues team.

The minister has also been reported to be making alternate arrangements by employing more practitioners in the state

Devoid of their residence and being under the threat of termination, the resident doctors however are still not moving any ground. They continue to strike outside their hospitals.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues team, Puniya added ,” This is not just a one off strike. We had given due notice of 7 days to the government, putting forward our demands. But even then the government did not listen. We are all fighting for better working/study conditions and not just one off issue. We will continue to strike till the government agrees to our demands. For the benefit of the patients ,we are running a parallel OPD in all hospitals."