Karnataka: Resident doctors end strike after Health Minister's assurance

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2021-12-06T10:00:00+05:30 | Updated On 6 Dec 2021 10:00 AM IST

Karnataka: Resident doctors end strike after Health Ministers assurance

Bengaluru: The resident doctors in Karnataka have decided to withdraw their agitation after State Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar promised to fulfill their demands.

The doctors, under the banner of the Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD), were boycotting OPD services and elective OTs across medical colleges. The doctors will wait till 15th of December to see if the government takes action too resolve the issue after which they will restart their agitation if necessary.

Previously Medical Dialogues reported that demanding immediate release of the COVID-19 risk allowance and a revision in the academic fee structure for PG medical courses in Government medical colleges of Karnataka, the doctors under the umbrella of Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) had initiated a state wide agitation.

Also Read: Revise Academic Fees, Give Timely Stipend: Karnataka Resident Doctors call for indefinite strike

While commenting on the matter, Dr. Tejas, President of KARD told Medical Dialogues, "On the fourth day of the strike, representatives from all the colleges, including PG students and interns from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, we came together at the Victoria Hospital campus. We had a discussion with Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar and the director of Medical Education and they gave us assurances that our demands will be duely considered and fullfilled."

Their first demand is regarding the COVID allowance. Although Government had promised paying the allowance back in May, the doctors haven't even got a penny. However, now the minister has assured that the doctors will get Covid allowance of Rs 10,000 soon. Another of their demands was regarding the academic fees, which was hiked from 23,000 to 1,29,000. The doctors were requesting the Government for reducing the fees and making it like it was earlier. In a recent press release KARD stated, " While the pending dues haven't yet been credited into any of the resident doctors accounts, we understand the technical issues and respect the word of assurances given by the Government to wait until 15/12/2021 for the same."

As far as another demand, the NEET counselling related demands of the protest are concerned, the association stated, " The resident doctors across the state are still awaiting response from the hon'ble Minister regarding the same. As promised a letter of communication to the Central Health Ministry to expedite the NEET PG counselling is still awaited. More than 24 hours into the discussion with the minister, more than 96 hours into the beginning of the agitation for this protest, failing of an official communication and representation of Karnataka resident doctors to the central union minister is really outrageous."

Highlighting the probability of a third wave soon, the association further added, "We hope for a swifter action from the minister for medical education, Karnataka at least in the form of a official letter /open letter to the central union minister urging for expediting NEET PG. Resident doctors of karnataka are made to feel skeptical about whether our demands are represented at the national level through proper channel via state govt."

KARD will continue to hold up the protest with FORDA,FAIMA and other state RDA'sin a symbolic way in its struggle to expedite NEET PG counselling. "The way of protest and its conduct is left to the decision of the individual JDA/RDA committees of the respective medical college hospitals and KARD will support any decision of the individual committee. However in case the burning issue is left unsettled and the delay in counselling continues we will be forced to escalate the fight without any choice", stated the press release.

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Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.