Shimla: Doctors continue pen down strike even after Director Health's recruitment

The doctocs have been demanding the immediate recruitment of the Director Health and government has given that additional charge to the Deputy Director, NHM, Dr Gopal Beri. However, the other demands of the doctors are yet to be fulfilled, reports The Tribune.

"Filling up the post of Director Health from doctor's cadre was not our only demand. There are other demands like the issue of grade pay which are yet unresolved," said Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) president Dr Anupam Badhan. The protesting doctors are expecting a meeting with Health Secretary shortly and only after that they will decide their further course of action.

Previously Medical dialogues reported that in Himachal's largest hospital IGMC Shimla, doctors  started working wearing black ribbons as a protest from Friday. The doctors of the State Association of Medical and Dental Teachers (IGMC) have been working since Friday wearing black badges to protest against governments in different to their pending demand s despite several assurances. Also, on October 4, all the doctors decided to go on mass leave. Doctors are demanding release of academic allowance.

President of SEMDICOTE Dr. Rajesh Sood told that the government has increased the academic allowance of specialist doctors from Rs 7500 to Rs 18000. They welcome this, but doctors working in medical colleges have not yet been given this allowance. The government had formed a committee, but this committee has not yet made any recommendation for this academic allowance, reports News18.

Under such circumstances, about 250 doctors threatened to go on mass leave, which will be the responsibility of the government. It is worth noting that patients are referred from all over the state in IGMC. In such a situation, patients will not be able to get treatment due to the doctor going on mass leave and there will be problems in the wards as well.

Vice President of State Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (Semdikot), Dr. Ramlal and General Secretary Dr. GK Verma have informed that emergency services will continue. IGMC Hospital has OPD of more than 3000 patients daily. In this, more than 100 patients come for emergency treatment. The doctors are now waiting for the response of the government hoping that all of their demands are seriously considered by the government.